R. v. Rumbolt (D.J.), (1993) 111 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 174 (NFPC)

• Judge: Roche, P.C.J.
• Case Date: October 29, 1993
• Jurisdiction: Newfoundland and Labrador
• Citations: (1993), 111 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 174 (NFPC)

R. v. Rumbolt (D.J.) (1993), 111 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 174 (NFPC);

    348 A.P.R. 174

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen v. Derrick James Rumbolt

(93A00907)

Indexed As: R. v. Rumbolt (D.J.)

Newfoundland Provincial Court

District of Corner Brook

Roche, P.C.J.

October 29, 1993.

Summary:

The accused was charged with two counts of wilfully obstructing a peace officer in the execution of his duty by failing to provide information relating to a criminal investiga­tion.

The Newfoundland Provincial Court acquitted the accused.

Criminal Law - Topic 39.2

Mens rea or intention - Wilfully defined - The accused police officer was charged with two counts of wilfully obstructing a peace officer in the execution of his duty, by failing to provide information relating to the alleged criminal conduct of another police officer - The accused declined the investigating officer's requests for a state­ment because of advice he received from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Asso­ciation and because he wished to consult a lawyer - The Newfoundland Provincial Court acquitted the accused, holding that he did not "wilfully" obstruct the peace officer.

Criminal Law - Topic 434

Disobedience and obstruction - Obstruc­tion and resistance of peace officer, in execu­tion of his duty - [See Criminal Law - Topic 39.2 ].

Words and Phrases

Wilfully - The Newfoundland Provincial Court discussed the word wilfully in the context of s. 129(a) of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46 - See paragraphs 33 to 44.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Westie (1971), 2 C.C.C.(2d) 315 (B.C.C.A.), appld. [para. 22].

R. v. Tortolano (1975), 28 C.C.C.(2d) 562 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

Hinchcliff v. Sheldon, [1955] 3 All E.R. 406 (D.C.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. MacPherson and Cole (1977), 24 N.S.R.(2d) 102; 35 A.P.R. 102 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. O'Hara (G.) (1993), 119 N.S.R.(2d) 128; 330 A.P.R. 128 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Dedman, [1985] 2 S.C.R. 2; 60 N.R. 34; 11 O.A.C. 241; 46 C.R.(3d) 193; 20 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 34 M.V.R. 1, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Sharma et al.; R. v. Greenbaum (1991), 44 O.A.C. 355; 62 C.C.C.(3d) 147 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Waterfield, [1964] 1 Q.B. 164 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Stenning, [1970] S.C.R. 631, refd to. [para. 31].

Knowlton v. R. (1973), 21 C.R.N.S. 344 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Docherty, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 941; 101 N.R. 161; 78 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 315; 244 A.P.R. 315; 51 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Stone (1985), 55 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 231; 162 A.P.R. 231; 22 C.C.C.(3d) 249 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 34].

Lavin v. Québec (Procureur général) (1990), 77 C.R.(3d) 251 (Que. S.C.), dist. [para. 36].

R. v. Peterson (1982), 37 A.R. 370; 69 C.C.C.(2d) 90 (Q.B.), dist. [para. 36].

R. v. L.S.L. (1991), 89 Sask.R. 267 (Q.B.), dist. [para. 36].

R. v. Patrick (1960), 32 C.R. 338 (Ont. C.A.), consd. [para. 38].

R. v. Guthrie (1982), 39 A.R. 435; 69 C.C.C.(2d) 216 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 41].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 129(a)(e) [para. 1].

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Act, R.S.N. 1990, c. R-16, generally [para. 42].

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Act Regulations (Nfld.), Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Regulations, generally [para. 42].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Mewitt, Alan W. and Morris Manning, Criminal Law (2nd Ed. 1985), p. 463 [para. 29].

Counsel:

Thomas Eagan, for the Crown;

Brad Wicks, for the accused.

This case was heard before Roche, P.C.J., of the Newfoundland Provincial Court, District of Corner Brook, who delivered the following judgment on October 29, 1993.