R. v. Pang (B.L.), (1994) 162 A.R. 24 (CA)

• Judge: Harradence, Conrad and Côté, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (Alberta)
• Case Date: November 29, 1994
• Citations: (1994), 162 A.R. 24 (CA);1994 ABCA 371;[1995] 4 WWR 442;162 AR 24;26 Alta LR (3d) 317;35 CR (4th) 371;95 CCC (3d) 60;[1994] AJ No 935 (QL);25 CRR (2d) 290

R. v. Pang (B.L.) (1994), 162 A.R. 24 (CA);

    83 W.A.C. 24

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen (respondent) v. Bun Ly Pang (appellant)

(Appeal No. 14504)

Indexed As: R. v. Pang (B.L.)

Alberta Court of Appeal

Harradence, Conrad and Côté, JJ.A.

November 29, 1994.

Summary:

The accused was charged with doing an indecent act with intent of insult or offend, contrary to s. 173(1)(b) of the Criminal Code. The accused applied under s. 24(1) of the Charter for a stay of proceedings on the ground that his defence was impaired by the Crown's failure to make timely disclosure of the particulars to the defence. The accused also applied for monetary compensation for extra legal costs incurred.

The Alberta Provincial Court, in a judg­ment reported 139 A.R. 135, refused to grant a stay, but ordered the Crown to pay the accused $1,500 to compensate him for un­necessary legal costs incurred because of the Crown's failure to provide timely dis­closure. The Crown applied for certiorari to quash the order.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the application. The court held that the Provincial Court was not a court of competent jurisdiction to award monetary relief. The accused appealed.

The Alberta Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and restored the Provincial Court judge's monetary award.

Civil Rights - Topic 8363

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Jurisdic­tion - [See Civil Rights - Topic 8380.7 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8374

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Stay of pro­ceedings - [See Civil Rights - Topic 8380.7 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8380.7

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Costs - The Crown violated the accused's s. 7 Charter rights by failing to make timely disclosure of particulars to the accused, forcing the accused to make additional unnecessary court appearances and to incur additional legal expenses - The Provincial Court judge refused to stay the proceed­ings, but ordered the Crown to pay $1,500 in costs to the accused as an appropriate and just remedy under s. 24(1) - The Alberta Court of Appeal affirmed that the Provincial Court was a "court of competent jurisdiction" under s. 24(1) to award a monetary remedy of costs against the Crown for breach of the accused's Charter rights - The Provincial Court had the right before the Charter to award costs against the Crown in limited circumstances, albeit not in the circumstances of this case (i.e., for a Charter breach) - If the Provincial Court had no prior jurisdiction to award costs against the Crown in any circum­stances, the court stated that "it would be difficult to see how the Charter suddenly could grant such jurisdiction".

Criminal Law - Topic 4505

Procedure - Trial - Special duties of Crown - Duty to disclose evidence prior to trial - [See Civil Rights - Topic 8380.7 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Stinchcombe, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 326; 130 N.R. 277; 120 A.R. 161; 8 W.A.C. 161; 68 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 2].

R. v. Davydov (A.) (1992), 128 A.R. 152 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Mills, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 863; 67 N.R. 241; 16 O.A.C. 81; 52 C.R.(3d) 1; 29 D.L.R.(4th) 161; 26 C.C.C.(3d) 481, refd to. [para. 13].

Hussey et al. and Ontario Public Service Employees Union v. Ontario (Attorney General) et al. (1984), 3 O.A.C. 166; 13 C.C.C.(3d) 81 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Doyle, [1977] 1 S.C.R. 597; 9 N.R. 285; 10 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 45; 17 A.P.R. 45; 29 C.C.C.(2d) 177; 35 C.R.N.S. 1, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Cutforth (1987), 81 A.R. 213; 40 C.C.C.(3d) 253 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Pawlowski (M.) (1993), 61 O.A.C. 276; 79 C.C.C.(3d) 353 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Morgentaler (1984), 6 O.A.C. 53; 16 C.C.C.(3d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Jedynack (1994), 16 O.R.(3d) 612 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Suecroft (1992), 16 W.C.B.(2d) 407 (Alta. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 28].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 7 [para. 2]; sect. 24(1) [para. 13].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 173(1)(b) [para. 1]; sect. 601(5) [para. 18]; sect. 803(4) [para. 18]; sect. 804 [para. 17]; sect. 809(1) [para. 18]; sect. 813(b)(i) [para. 17]; sect. 840 [para. 18].

Counsel:

Earl Wilson, Q.C., for the respondent;

N.C. O'Brien, Q.C., for the appellant.

This appeal was heard before Harradence, Conrad and Côté, JJ.A., of the Alberta Court of Appeal.

On November 29, 1994, Harradence, J.A., delivered the following judgment for the Court of Appeal.