R. v. Nicholson, (1981) 39 N.R. 611 (SCC)

JudgeLaskin, C.J.C., Martland, Ritchie, Dickson, Estey, McIntyre and Chouinard, JJ.
CourtSupreme Court (Canada)
Case DateDecember 01, 1981
JurisdictionCanada (Federal)
Citations(1981), 39 N.R. 611 (SCC);24 CR (3d) 284;1981 CanLII 62 (SCC);39 NR 611;64 CCC (2d) 116;7 WCB 49;[1981] 2 SCR 265;130 DLR (3d) 577;[1981] SCJ No 104 (QL);[1982] 1 WWR 385;1981 CanLII 216 (SCC);13 Man R (2d) 91;[1981] 2 SCR 600

R. v. Nicholson (1981), 39 N.R. 611 (SCC)

MLB headnote and full text

R. v. Nicholson

Indexed As: R. v. Nicholson

Supreme Court of Canada

Laskin, C.J.C., Martland, Ritchie, Dickson, Estey, McIntyre and Chouinard, JJ.

December 1, 1981.

Summary:

This case arose out of charges against the accused of armed robbery and unlawfully using a firearm while committing the robbery contrary to s. 83 of the Criminal Code. Section 83 required a minimum sentence of one year for a first offence and a minimum sentence of three years for a second or subsequent offence. The accused was previously convicted of a robbery in which his accomplice used a firearm. The Crown submitted that the accused should be given the minimum three year sentence for a second offence of using a firearm while committing a robbery, but the trial judge sentenced the accused to the minimum one year imprisonment for a first offence, because the accused had not himself used a firearm during the prior offence. The sentence was made consecutive to a four year sentence for robbery. The Crown appealed. The Manitoba Court of Appeal in a judgment reported 2 Man.R.(2d) 367 allowed the appeal and held that the accused should receive the minimum three year sentence for a second firearm offence, because he was convicted previously of an offence during which a firearm was used, notwithstanding that he did not use it himself. The accused appealed.

The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal.

Criminal Law - Topic 1438

Firearms - Use of - During commission of offence - Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, s. 83(1) - The accused was convicted of robbery and of using a firearm while committing the robbery contrary to s. 83(1), which required a minimum sentence of one year for a first offence and a minimum sentence of three years for a second or subsequent firearm offence - The accused was previously convicted of a robbery in which his accomplice used a firearm - The Supreme Court of Canada held that the accused should receive a minimum three year sentence for a second offence, because he was party to a prior offence in which a firearm was used, notwithstanding that the accused himself did not use it.

Cases Noticed:

Kienapple v. The Queen, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 729; 1 N.R. 322; 15 C.C.C.(2d) 524; 26 C.R.N.S. 1; 44 D.L.R.(3d) 351, refd to. [para. 4].

R. v. Paquette, [1977] 2 S.C.R. 189; 11 N.R. 451, dist. [para. 9].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, sect. 83, [para. 3].

Counsel:

D.E. Bowman, for the appellant;

J.G.B. Dangerfield, Q.C., for the respondent.

This case was heard on October 26, 1981, at Ottawa, Ontario, before LASKIN, C.J.C., MARTLAND, RITCHIE, DICKSON, ESTEY, McINTYRE and CHOUINARD, JJ., of the Supreme Court of Canada.

On December 1, 1981, LASKIN, C.J.C., delivered the following judgment for the Supreme Court of Canada:

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3 practice notes
  • R. v. K.C., (2011) 276 O.A.C. 267 (CA)
    • Canada
    • Ontario Court of Appeal (Ontario)
    • 26 Octubre 2010
    ...66 O.A.C. 35, refd to. [para. 43, footnote 4]. R. v. Paquette, [1977] 2 S.C.R. 189; 11 N.R. 451, refd to. [para. 54]. R. v. Nicholson, [1981] 2 S.C.R. 600; 39 N.R. 611; 13 Man.R.(2d) 91, refd to. [para. R. v. McGuigan, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 284; 40 N.R. 499, refd to. [para. 55]. R. v. J.S. (2006)......
  • R. v. Butler and Sampson, (1983) 59 N.S.R.(2d) 87 (CA)
    • Canada
    • Nova Scotia Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • 12 Abril 1983
    ...25 N.S.R.(2d) 687; 36 A.P.R. 687, appld. [para. 10]. R. v. Cheetham (1980), 53 C.C.C.(2d) 109, appld. [para. 16]. R. v. Nicholson (1981), 39 N.R. 611; 64 C.C.C.(2d) 116 (S.C.C.), appld. [para. R. v. McGuigan (1982), 40 N.R. 497; 66 C.C.C.(2d) 97 (S.C.C.), appld. [para. 16]. R. v. Hatch (197......
  • R. v. Bennett (K.J.), (1985) 56 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 31 (NFCA)
    • Canada
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal (Newfoundland)
    • 12 Septiembre 1985
    ...therefore, there can be no additional charge of using a firearm during the commission of an offence. Cases Noticed: R. v. Nicholson, [1981] 2 S.C.R. 600; 39 N.R. 611; 13 Man.R.(2d) 91; [1982] 1 W.W.R. 385; 64 C.C.C.(2d) 116; 24 C.R.(3d) 284, refd to. [para. R. v. McGuigan, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 2......
3 cases
  • R. v. K.C., (2011) 276 O.A.C. 267 (CA)
    • Canada
    • Ontario Court of Appeal (Ontario)
    • 26 Octubre 2010
    ...66 O.A.C. 35, refd to. [para. 43, footnote 4]. R. v. Paquette, [1977] 2 S.C.R. 189; 11 N.R. 451, refd to. [para. 54]. R. v. Nicholson, [1981] 2 S.C.R. 600; 39 N.R. 611; 13 Man.R.(2d) 91, refd to. [para. R. v. McGuigan, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 284; 40 N.R. 499, refd to. [para. 55]. R. v. J.S. (2006)......
  • R. v. Butler and Sampson, (1983) 59 N.S.R.(2d) 87 (CA)
    • Canada
    • Nova Scotia Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • 12 Abril 1983
    ...25 N.S.R.(2d) 687; 36 A.P.R. 687, appld. [para. 10]. R. v. Cheetham (1980), 53 C.C.C.(2d) 109, appld. [para. 16]. R. v. Nicholson (1981), 39 N.R. 611; 64 C.C.C.(2d) 116 (S.C.C.), appld. [para. R. v. McGuigan (1982), 40 N.R. 497; 66 C.C.C.(2d) 97 (S.C.C.), appld. [para. 16]. R. v. Hatch (197......
  • R. v. Bennett (K.J.), (1985) 56 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 31 (NFCA)
    • Canada
    • Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal (Newfoundland)
    • 12 Septiembre 1985
    ...therefore, there can be no additional charge of using a firearm during the commission of an offence. Cases Noticed: R. v. Nicholson, [1981] 2 S.C.R. 600; 39 N.R. 611; 13 Man.R.(2d) 91; [1982] 1 W.W.R. 385; 64 C.C.C.(2d) 116; 24 C.R.(3d) 284, refd to. [para. R. v. McGuigan, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 2......

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