R. v. MacDougal (R.A.),

• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Judge: McEachern, C.J.B.C., Prowse and Hall, JJ.A.
• Neutral Citation: 1999 BCCA 509
• Date: 16 July 1999
• Court: Court of Appeal (British Columbia)

R. v. MacDougal (R.A.) (1999), 128 B.C.A.C. 281 (CA);

    208 W.A.C. 281

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1999] B.C.A.C. TBEd. OC.005

Regina (respondent) v. Rebecca Anne MacDougal (appellant) and The Attorney General of Canada (intervener)

(V03432; 1999 BCCA 509)

Indexed As: R. v. MacDougal (R.A.)

British Columbia Court of Appeal

McEachern, C.J.B.C., Prowse and Hall, JJ.A.

September 10, 1999.

Summary:

The accused was charged in connection with a serious "home invasion". Following a bail hearing, the British Columbia Provincial Court denied bail to the accused, citing s. 515(10)(c) of the Criminal Code. At a bail review, the British Columbia Supreme Court sustained the decision. The accused sought habeas corpus and attacked the constitu­tiona­lity of s. 515(10)(c).

The British Col­umbia Supreme Court dismissed the applica­tion and sustained the constitu­tionality of the section. The accused appealed.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

Civil Rights - Topic 3107

Trials - Due process, fundamental justice and fair hearings - General principles and definitions - Void for vagueness doctrine - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3107.2 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 3107.2

Trials - Due process, fundamental justice and fair hearings - General principles and definitions - Overbreadth principle - Sec­tion 515(10)(c) of the Criminal Code pro­vided for the detention of an accused to maintain confidence in the administration of justice - The British Columbia Court of Appeal held that the section was framed in suf­ficiently specific language to save it from being found too vague or overbroad.

Criminal Law - Topic 3304.1

Compelling appearance, detention and release - Interim release or detention of accused pending trial or appeal - Deten­tion necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice - [See Civil Rights - Topic 3107.2 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Bray (1983), 2 C.C.C.(3d) 325 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 2].

Powers v. R. (1972), 9 C.C.C.(2d) 533 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Morales (M.), [1992] 3 S.C.R. 711; 144 N.R. 176; 51 Q.A.C. 161; 77 C.C.C.(3d) 90; 17 C.R.(4th) 74, adden­dum 147 N.R. 335, refd to. [para. 5].

R. v. Heywood (R.L.), [1994] 3 S.C.R. 761; 174 N.R. 81; 50 B.C.A.C. 161; 82 W.A.C. 161; 120 D.L.R.(4th) 348; 94 C.C.C.(3d) 481, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Nova Scotia Pharmaceutical Society (No. 2), [1992] 2 S.C.R. 606; 139 N.R. 241; 114 N.S.R.(2d) 91; 313 A.P.R. 91; 74 C.C.C.(3d) 289, refd to. [para. 14].

Winko v. Forensic Psychiatric Institute (B.C.) et al. (1999), 241 N.R. 1; 124 B.C.A.C. 1; 203 W.A.C. 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Alexander (J.M.) and Siebert (M.) (1998), 58 O.T.C. 261 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 22].

United Nurses of Alberta v. Alberta (At­tor­ney General), [1992] 1 S.C.R. 901; 135 N.R. 321; 125 A.R. 241; 14 W.A.C. 241; 1 Alta. L.R.(3d) 129; [1992] 3 W.W.R. 481; 71 C.C.C.(3d) 225, refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Nguyen (Y.V.) (1997), 97 B.C.A.C. 86; 157 W.A.C. 86; 119 C.C.C.(3d) 269 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 29].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 515(10)(c) [para. 1].

Counsel:

B.L. Hickford and B.E. Curry, for the appellant;

R.F. Cutler, for the respondent;

S.D. Frankel, Q.C., for the intervener.

This appeal was heard in Vancouver, British Columbia, on July 16, 1999, before McEachern, C.J.B.C., Prowse and Hall, JJ.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. The judgment of the court was delivered on September 10, 1999, when the following opinions were filed:

Hall, J.A. (Prowse, J.A., concurring) - see paragraphs 1 to 27;

McEachern, C.J.B.C. - see paragraphs 28 and 29.