R. v. MacDonald (D.S.), (2003) 220 N.S.R.(2d) 210 (SC)

• Judge: McDougall, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: September 24, 2003
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (2003), 220 N.S.R.(2d) 210 (SC);2003 NSSC 230

R. v. MacDonald (D.S.) (2003), 220 N.S.R.(2d) 210 (SC);

 694 A.P.R. 210

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2003] N.S.R.(2d) TBEd. DE.002

Danielle Sylvia MacDonald (appellant) v. Her Majesty the Queen (respondent)

(S.H. 195579A; 2003 NSSC 230)

Indexed As: R. v. MacDonald (D.S.)

Nova Scotia Supreme Court

McDougall, J.

November 25, 2003.

Summary:

An accused appealed her conviction of driving while having an excessive blood-alcohol level. At issue was whether the trial judge erred in refusing to exclude the breath analysis which was obtained as a result of a contravention of the accused's s. 9 Charter right not to be arbitrarily detained.

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court dismissed the appeal.

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - The police stopped the accused's vehicle - The officers noted indicia of impairment and made a breathalyzer demand - The trial judge concluded that the arbitrary stopping of the accused's vehicle contravened her s. 9 Charter rights, but admitted the resulting breathalyzer evidence and convicted the accused of driving while having an excessive blood-alcohol level - The Nova Scotia Supreme Court affirmed the admission of the evidence - The indicia of impairment was not conscriptive evidence - Exclusion would have brought the administration of justice into disrepute.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Stillman (W.W.D.), [1997] 1 S.C.R. 607; 209 N.R. 81; 185 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 472 A.P.R. 1; 113 C.C.C.(3d) 321, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Collins, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 265; 74 N.R. 276, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Ladouceur, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 1257; 108 N.R. 171; 40 O.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Hufsky, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 621; 84 N.R. 365; 27 O.A.C. 103, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Burke (1988), 70 Sask.R. 272; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 434 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Montour (T.S.) and Longboat (S.B.) (1992), 129 N.B.R.(2d) 361; 325 A.P.R. 361 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Hylkema (1985), 70 N.S.R.(2d) 368; 166 A.P.R. 368 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. Baccardax (1986), 75 N.S.R.(2d) 154; 186 A.P.R. 154 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. MacLennan (J.W.) (1995), 138 N.S.R.(2d) 369; 394 A.P.R. 369 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 24].

Counsel:

Lisa Teryl, for the appellant;

Robert P. McCarroll, for the respondent.

McDougall, J., of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, heard this appeal on September 24, 2003, and delivered the following judgment on November 25, 2003.