R. v. Mezzo, (1983) 22 Man.R.(2d) 223 (CA)

JudgeMonnin, C.J.M., Hall and Matas, JJ.A.
CourtCourt of Appeal (Manitoba)
Case DateJune 02, 1983
JurisdictionManitoba
Citations(1983), 22 Man.R.(2d) 223 (CA)

R. v. Mezzo (1983), 22 Man.R.(2d) 223 (CA)

MLB headnote and full text

R. v. Mezzo

(Suit No. 42/83)

Indexed As: R. v. Mezzo

Manitoba Court of Appeal

Monnin, C.J.M., Hall and Matas, JJ.A.

July 27, 1983.

Summary:

The accused was charged with rape. The issue was identification. At the close of the Crown's case the defence made a motion for a directed verdict of acquittal. The trial judge, in a decision not reported in this series of reports, allowed the motion. The Crown appealed.

The Manitoba Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and ordered a new trial. Matas, J.A., dissenting in paragraphs 14 to 48, would have dismissed the appeal and allowed the directed verdict of acquittal to stand.

Criminal Law - Topic 4359

Procedure - Charge or directions to jury - Directed verdict of "not guilty" - The accused was charged with rape - The issue was identification - The complainant described her assailant to the police, including a police artist - The complainant also described her assailant at trial and identified the accused in a docket line-up - The trial judge granted a motion for a directed verdict of acquittal because the identification evidence was poor - The Manitoba Court of Appeal stated the test to be applied in withdrawing a case from the jury and held that the identification evidence was sufficient to allow the jury to decide the present case - See paragraphs 6 to 13.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Faryna (1982), 18 Man.R.(2d) 185; 3 C.C.C.(3d) 58, refd to. [paras. 4, 43].

R. v. Turnbull, [1976] 3 All E.R. 549; 63 Cr. App. R. 132 (Eng. C.A.), consd. [paras. 5, 18].

R. v. Duhamel, [1981] 1 W.W.R. 22, consd. [paras. 5, 18].

R. v. Comba, [1938] S.C.R. 396, refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Marcoux and Solomon (1975), 24 C.C.C.(2d) 1; 4 N.R. 64 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Weeder (1980), 71 Cr. App. R. 228, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Oakwell, [1978] 1 All E.R. 1223, refd to. [para. 38].

United States of America v. Sheppard, [1977] 2 S.C.R. 1067; 70 D.L.R.(3d) 136; 34 C.R.N.S. 207; 30 C.C.C.(2d) 424; 9 N.R. 215, reving 20 C.C.C.(2d) 575; 5 N.R. 277 affing 19 C.C.C.(2d) 35, refd to. [para. 40].

Girvin v. The King (1911), 45 S.C.R. 167; 20 W.L.R. 130, refd to. [para. 41].

R. v. Smierciak, [1947] 2 D.L.R. 156; [1946] O.W.N. 871; 87 C.C.C. 175, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Dickman (1910), 5 Cr. App. R. 135, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Goldhar, [1941] 2 D.L.R. 480; 76 C.C.C. 270, refd to. [para. 43].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Bessner, Eyewitness Identification in Canada (1983), 25 Cr. L.Q. 313 [para. 37].

Sobel, Eyewitness Identification, Legal and Practical Problems [para. 37].

Counsel:

B.R. Kaplan, for the appellant;

J.M. Scurfield, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard on June 2, 1983, by MONNIN, C.J.M., HALL and MATAS, JJ.A., of the Manitoba Court of Appeal. On July 27, 1983, the decision of the Court of Appeal was delivered and the following opinions were filed:

HALL, J.A. - See paragraphs 1 to 13;

MATAS, J.A., dissenting - See paragraphs 14 to 48.

MONNIN, C.J.M., concurred with HALL, J.A.

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4 practice notes
  • R. v. Trang (D.) et al., (2001) 295 A.R. 250 (QB)
    • Canada
    • Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
    • May 16, 2001
    ...1 S.C.R. 802; 68 N.R. 1; 42 Man.R.(2d) 161; 52 C.R.(3d) 113; [1986] 4 W.W.R. 577; 27 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 30 D.L.R.(4th) 161, affing. (1983), 22 Man.R.(2d) 223; 35 C.R.(3d) 272 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 83, footnote R. v. Fosbraey (1950), 98 C.C.C. 275 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 87, footnote 28].......
  • Hajjar v. Repetowski, (2001) 319 A.R. 251 (QB)
    • Canada
    • Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
    • May 7, 2001
    ...1 S.C.R. 802; 68 N.R. 1; 43 Man.R.(2d) 161; 52 C.R.(3d) 113; [1986] 4 W.W.R. 577; 27 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 30 D.L.R.(4th) 161, affing. (1983), 22 Man.R.(2d) 223; 35 C.R.(3d) 272 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 71, footnote Statutes Noticed: Jury Act, S.A. 1982, c. J-2.1, sect. 16(1), sect. 16(2), sect. 16......
  • R. v. Mezzo, (1986) 68 N.R. 1 (SCC)
    • Canada
    • Canada (Federal) Supreme Court (Canada)
    • June 26, 1986
    ...for a directed verdict of acquittal. The Court of Appeal, one judge dissenting, allowed the Crown's appeal and ordered a new trial: (1983), 22 Man.R.(2d) 223; 35 C.R.(3d) 272 . The accused comes to this Court as of right under s. 618(2)(a) of the Criminal Code . The Facts [66] On June 13, ......
  • R. v. Mezzo, (1986) 43 Man.R.(2d) 161 (SCC)
    • Canada
    • Canada (Federal) Supreme Court (Canada)
    • June 26, 1986
    ...for a directed verdict of acquittal. The Court of Appeal, one judge dissenting, allowed the Crown's appeal and ordered a new trial: (1983), 22 Man.R.(2d) 223; 35 C.R.(3d) 272 . The accused comes to this Court as of right under s. 618(2)(a) of the Criminal Code . The Facts [66] On June 13, ......
4 cases
  • R. v. Trang (D.) et al., (2001) 295 A.R. 250 (QB)
    • Canada
    • Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
    • May 16, 2001
    ...1 S.C.R. 802; 68 N.R. 1; 42 Man.R.(2d) 161; 52 C.R.(3d) 113; [1986] 4 W.W.R. 577; 27 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 30 D.L.R.(4th) 161, affing. (1983), 22 Man.R.(2d) 223; 35 C.R.(3d) 272 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 83, footnote R. v. Fosbraey (1950), 98 C.C.C. 275 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 87, footnote 28].......
  • Hajjar v. Repetowski, (2001) 319 A.R. 251 (QB)
    • Canada
    • Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
    • May 7, 2001
    ...1 S.C.R. 802; 68 N.R. 1; 43 Man.R.(2d) 161; 52 C.R.(3d) 113; [1986] 4 W.W.R. 577; 27 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 30 D.L.R.(4th) 161, affing. (1983), 22 Man.R.(2d) 223; 35 C.R.(3d) 272 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 71, footnote Statutes Noticed: Jury Act, S.A. 1982, c. J-2.1, sect. 16(1), sect. 16(2), sect. 16......
  • R. v. Mezzo, (1986) 68 N.R. 1 (SCC)
    • Canada
    • Canada (Federal) Supreme Court (Canada)
    • June 26, 1986
    ...for a directed verdict of acquittal. The Court of Appeal, one judge dissenting, allowed the Crown's appeal and ordered a new trial: (1983), 22 Man.R.(2d) 223; 35 C.R.(3d) 272 . The accused comes to this Court as of right under s. 618(2)(a) of the Criminal Code . The Facts [66] On June 13, ......
  • R. v. Mezzo, (1986) 43 Man.R.(2d) 161 (SCC)
    • Canada
    • Canada (Federal) Supreme Court (Canada)
    • June 26, 1986
    ...for a directed verdict of acquittal. The Court of Appeal, one judge dissenting, allowed the Crown's appeal and ordered a new trial: (1983), 22 Man.R.(2d) 223; 35 C.R.(3d) 272 . The accused comes to this Court as of right under s. 618(2)(a) of the Criminal Code . The Facts [66] On June 13, ......

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