R. v. R.E.B., (1997) 201 A.R. 321 (PC)

• Judge: Jacobson, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: May 15, 1997
• Citations: (1997), 201 A.R. 321 (PC)

R. v. R.E.B. (1997), 201 A.R. 321 (PC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1997] A.R. TBEd. JN.074

Her Majesty The Queen v. R.E.B.

(Docket No. 51629475Y10101-03)

Indexed As: R. v. R.E.B.

Alberta Provincial Court

Youth Division

Jacobson, P.C.J.

May 15, 1997.

Summary:

An undercover operation resulted in the "roundup" of 36 individuals, including a young offender. Undercover officers made three separate purchases of marijuana from the youth, resulting in three charges of trafficking in marijuana. Subsequent to that, police (accompanied by the media at the police chief's invitation) executed a search warrant at the youth's home, resulting in another charge (possession of marijuana). The police conceded that the presence of the media was improper and withdrew the charge resulting from the search. With respect to the three charges resulting from the undercover purchases, the youth applied for a stay of proceedings under s. 24(1) of the Charter or as a remedy for abuse of process (based on the joint police/media activity). The issues were, inter alia, "(4) Did the joint conduct of the police and media create a Charter violation, and/or was that conduct an abuse of process?; (5) If there was an abuse of process does the remedy come under the Charter, or is there still a separate remedy for abuse of process?; (6) Whether a Charter violation or abuse of process, is a remedy at this trial proper, or is there another more appropriate forum?; and (7) If a remedy is proper at this time, what is the appropriate remedy?".

The Alberta Provincial Court held that the three charges, which were proved, were separate and distinct from the execution of the search warrant by police accompanied by the media. The media presence disregarded the youth's privacy rights and constituted an unreasonable search and seizure (Charter, s. 8). It was unnecessary to determine whether police conduct respecting the media also constituted an abuse of process. The court adjourned the proceeding to determine the appropriate remedy, at this trial, under s. 24(1) of the Charter.

Civil Rights - Topic 1508

Property - Expectation of privacy - The Alberta Provincial Court generally discussed a person's reasonable expectation of privacy in their own home - See paragraphs 141 to 148.

Civil Rights - Topic 1646

Property - Search and seizure - Unreasonable search and seizure defined - Police conducting a "roundup" of 36 people following a large undercover operation attended at the home of a young offender to execute a search warrant, accompanied by the media (including a television cameraman) - The media entered the home with police - The Alberta Provincial Court stated that media presence during execution of a search warrant would be proper only "if the information to obtain a search warrant showed the likelihood of substantial value to the investigation, or that such participation and subsequent disclosure of events is in the best interests of the administration of justice" - Further, where a young offender was involved, there were concerns with the privacy interests codified in the Young Offenders Act - The court held that the media had no lawful authority to enter and the police had no authority to permit them to do so - The youth's privacy rights (and his parent's) were violated and there was an unreasonable execution of the search warrant, contrary to s. 8 of the Charter - The issue of the appropriate remedy under s. 24(1) of the Charter was adjourned - See paragraphs 88 to 182.

Criminal Law - Topic 251

Abuse of process - General principles - A young offender submitted that the presence of the media in the execution of a search warrant violated his Charter rights and constituted an abuse of process, either of which justified a stay of proceedings - The Alberta Provincial Court stated that where there was a Charter violation established it was unnecessary to determine whether the conduct also constituted an abuse of process - The court was to then exercise its discretionary power under s. 24(1) of the Charter to determine what remedy was just and appropriate - See paragraphs 130 to 140.

Criminal Law - Topic 3097

Issue of search warrants - Contents of information or application for issue of - Police, applying for a search warrant, did not disclose to the issuing judge that the media would be accompanying police to execute the warrant - The Alberta Provincial Court discussed the duty to make full disclosure of all relevant information to the issuing judge, so that the judge could properly exercise his discretion respecting (1) the issuance of a search warrant and (2) the imposition of restrictions governing the manner in which the search warrant could be executed - See paragraphs 92 to 116.

Criminal Law - Topic 4505

Procedure - Trial - Special duties of Crown - Duty to disclose evidence prior to trial - Police conducting a "roundup" of 36 people following a large undercover operation attended at the home of a young offender to execute a search warrant, accompanied by the media (including a television cameraman) - The media entered the home with police - The youth sought disclosure of a reporter's notes taken during the incident - The police requested that the reporter's notes be given to them, but qualified the request by advising that if the reporter (being a third party) refused to provide the notes, then the police would not have to disclose them to the youth - The Alberta Provincial Court held that the attitude and conduct by the police respecting the third party production in order to deny disclosure to the youth was wrong - The court stated that "this improper police suggestion" violated the fundamental principle of fairness and justice - See paragraphs 162 to 168.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Flett (1970), 73 W.W.R.(N.S.) 699 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Kiley, [1971] 2 W.W.R. 551 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Braithwaite (1972), 6 C.C.C.(2d) 257 (Alta. T.D.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Henri (1972), 9 C.C.C.(2d) 52 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Pratt (1974), 15 C.C.C.(2d) 119 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Smith (1974), 17 C.C.C.(2d) 465 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Woodward (1975), 23 C.C.C.(2d) 508 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. M. (1975), 25 C.C.C.(2d) 507 (Man. Q.B.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Breen (1975), 12 N.B.R.(2d) 616; 10 A.P.R. 616; 30 C.C.C.(2d) 229 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Hynek, [1975] 6 W.W.R. 460 (Alta. Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Bolton (1977), 36 C.C.C.(2d) 109 (Ont. Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Wood (1977), 20 N.S.R.(2d) 176; 27 A.P.R. 176 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Fitzpatrick (1978), 21 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 290; 56 A.P.R. 290 (Nfld. Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Reilly (1978), 19 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 207; 50 A.P.R. 207 (P.E.I.S.C.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Fulton (1978), 22 N.B.R.(2d) 702; 39 A.P.R. 702 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Ebner, [1979] 2 S.C.R. 996; 28 N.R. 91; 47 C.C.C.(2d) 293, refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. McKnight (1979), 49 C.C.C.(2d) 412 (B.C. Co. Ct.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. McKenna (1979), 23 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 127; 61 A.P.R. 127 (P.E.I.C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. De Vincentis (1982), 5 C.C.C.(3d) 562 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Taylor (1983), 5 C.C.C.(3d) 260 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Good, Schmidt and Winnipeg; R. v. Neubert (1983), 44 A.R. 393; 6 C.C.C.(3d) 105 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Hayter (1988), 9 M.V.R.(2d) 194 (Ont. Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Hunter (C.D.) (1995), 171 N.B.R.(2d) 19; 437 A.P.R. 19 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 83].

Halifax Herald Ltd. v. Sparks, J.F.C. (1995), 142 N.S.R.(2d) 321; 407 A.P.R. 321; 98 C.C.C.(3d) 235 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 90].

R. v. R.D.S. - see Halifax Herald Ltd. v. Sparks, J.F.C.

D.C.F., Re (1986), 74 A.R. 342; 44 Alta. L.R.(2d) 258 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 90].

Canadian Broadcasting Corp. v. Dagenais et al., [1994] 3 S.C.R. 835; 175 N.R. 1; 76 O.A.C. 81; 94 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 120 D.L.R.(4th) 12; 25 C.R.R.(2d) 1, refd to. [para. 90].

MacIntyre v. Nova Scotia (Attorney General) and Grainger and Canada (Attorney General) et al., [1982] 1 S.C.R. 175; 40 N.R. 181; 49 N.S.R.(2d) 609; 96 A.P.R. 609; 65 C.C.C.(2d) 129; 132 D.L.R.(3d) 385, refd to. [para. 91].

R. v. Silveira (A.), [1995] 2 S.C.R. 297; 181 N.R. 161; 81 O.A.C. 161; 97 C.C.C.(3d) 450; 38 C.R.(4th) 330; 124 D.L.R.(4th) 193, refd to. [para. 92].

Southam Inc. v. Hunter, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 145; 55 N.R. 241; 55 A.R. 291; 9 C.R.R. 355; 14 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 41 C.R.(3d) 97; [1984] 6 W.W.R. 577; 33 Alta. L.R.(2d) 193; 27 B.L.R. 297; 84 D.T.C. 6467; 2 C.P.R.(3d) 1; 11 D.L.R.(4th) 641, refd to. [para. 93].

R. v. Carosella (N.), [1997] 1 S.C.R. 80; 207 N.R. 321; 98 O.A.C. 81, refd to. [para. 94].

R. v. Greffe, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 755; 107 N.R. 1; 107 A.R. 1; 55 C.C.C.(3d) 161; 75 C.R.(3d) 257; 46 C.R.R. 1; [1990] 3 W.W.R. 577; 73 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97, refd to. [para. 96].

R. v. Latimer (R.D.) et al. (1997), 199 A.R. 387 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 97].

R. v. J.E.B. (1985), 94 N.S.R.(2d) 312; 247 A.P.R. 312; 52 C.C.C.(3d) 224 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 101].

Descôteaux et al. v. Mierzwinski et al., [1982] 1 S.C.R. 860; 44 N.R. 462; 141 D.L.R.(3d) 590; 70 C.C.C.(2d) 385, refd to. [para. 102].

R. v. Peet and Ward (1990), 9 W.C.B.(2d) 411 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 105].

R. v. W.S. (1992), 129 A.R. 365 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 116].

R. v. Pastro (1988), 66 Sask.R. 241; 42 C.C.C.(3d) 485 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 116].

Edmonton Journal v. Alberta (Attorney General), [1989] 2 S.C.R. 1326; 102 N.R. 321; 103 A.R. 321; 64 D.L.R.(4th) 577; [1990] 1 W.W.R. 577; 71 Alta. L.R.(2d) 273; 45 C.R.R. 1, refd to. [para. 124].

Société Radio-Canada v. Lessard (juge), Quebec (Procureur général) et autres, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 421; 130 N.R. 321; 43 Q.A.C. 161; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 517, refd to. [para. 125].

Canadian Broadcasting Corp. v. Lessard - see Société Radio-Canada v. Lessard (juge), Quebec (Procureur général) et autres.

Société Radio-Canada v. Nouveau-Brunswick (Procureur général) et autres, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 459; 130 N.R. 362; 119 N.B.R.(2d) 271; 300 A.P.R. 271; 85 D.L.R.(4th) 57, refd to. [para. 126].

R. v. Mack, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 903; 90 N.R. 173; [1989] 1 W.W.R. 577; 44 C.C.C.(3d) 513; 67 C.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 130].

R. v. Power (E.), [1994] 1 S.C.R. 601; 165 N.R. 241; 117 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 269; 365 A.P.R. 269; 89 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 29 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 135].

R. v. O'Connor (H.P.), [1995] 4 S.C.R. 411; 191 N.R. 1; 68 B.C.A.C. 1; 112 W.A.C. 1; [1996] 2 W.W.R. 153; 103 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 4 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 137].

R. v. Landry, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 145; 65 N.R. 161; 14 O.A.C. 241; 25 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 142].

Eccles v. Bourque et al., [1975] 2 S.C.R. 739; 3 N.R. 259; 19 C.C.C.(2d) 129; 50 D.L.R.(3d) 753; 27 C.R.N.S. 325; [1975] 1 W.W.R. 209, refd to. [para. 142].

R. v. Colet, [1981] 1 S.C.R. 2; 35 N.R. 227; 57 C.C.C.(2d) 105; 119 D.L.R.(3d) 521, refd to. [para. 143].

R. v. Lyons, Prevedoros and McGuire, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 633; 56 N.R. 6; 58 A.R. 2; 15 C.C.C.(3d) 417; 14 D.L.R.(4th) 482, refd to. [para. 144].

R. v. Evans (C.R.) et al., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 8; 191 N.R. 327; 69 B.C.A.C. 81; 113 W.A.C. 81; 104 C.C.C.(3d) 23, refd to. [para. 146].

R. v. Sanelli, Duarte and Fasciano, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 30; 103 N.R. 86; 37 O.A.C. 322; 53 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 74 C.R.(3d) 281; 45 C.R.R. 278, refd to. [para. 148].

R. v. Duarte - see R. v. Sanelli, Duarte and Fasciano.

R. v. Wong et al., [1990] 3 S.C.R. 36; 120 N.R. 34; 45 O.A.C. 250; 60 C.C.C.(3d) 460, refd to. [para. 148].

R. v. Chaplin (D.A.) et al., [1995] 1 S.C.R. 727; 178 N.R. 118; 162 A.R. 272; 83 W.A.C. 272; 96 C.C.C.(3d) 225, refd to. [para. 164].

Nelles v. Ontario et al., [1989] 2 S.C.R. 170; 98 N.R. 321; 35 O.A.C. 161; 60 D.L.R.(4th) 609, refd to. [para. 171].

Roncarelli v. Duplessis, [1959] S.C.R. 21; 16 D.L.R.(2d) 689, refd to. [para. 171].

Statutes Noticed:

Young Offenders Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. Y-1, sect. 19(6), sect. 38(1), sect. 46(1) [para. 88].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Costigan, Ruth, Fleet Street Blues: Police Seizure of Journalists' Materials, [1996] Crim. L.R. 231, p. 237 [para. 118].

Salhany, The Police Manual of Arrest, Seizure and Interrogation (5th Ed. 1991), pp. 7, 73 [para. 173].

Counsel:

W. Cocks, for the Crown;

H. Wahl, for the accused.

This case was heard before Jacobson, P.C.J., of the Alberta Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on May 15, 1997.