R. v. Russell (M.C.) et al., (1999) 24 B.C.T.C. 321 (SC)

• Judge: Romilly, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
• Case Date: June 04, 1999
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: (1999), 24 B.C.T.C. 321 (SC)

R. v. Russell (M.C.) (1999), 24 B.C.T.C. 321 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1999] B.C.T.C. TBEd. OC.127

Her Majesty The Queen v. Michael Currie Russell, Brooks Farrell Grenfal, Donald Gary McKay, Faizal Ali Venkataya and Ross Mathew Caldwell

(CC981460)

Indexed As: R. v. Russell (M.C.) et al.

British Columbia Supreme Court

Vancouver

Romilly, J.

June 4, 1999.

Summary:

The accused were charged with various counts of trafficking and conspiring to traffic in controlled and restricted drugs. The accused, Russell, applied to review a general warrant which was granted to surreptitiously enter a storage locker at Freeway Mini Storage in order to confirm the presence of ephedrine, a chemical that could be used to manufacture methamphetamine. The police had also installed an alarm device in the locker to notify investigators if someone attended the locker. The accused argued that: (1) the manager of Freeway Mini Storage should not have given the police a list of the occupants for lockers without a warrant; (2) the general warrant did not authorize the installation of an alarm and therefore the installation took place without a proper warrant; (3) the general warrant was issued on the basis of conclusory statements; and (4) with­out the warrantless search, the founda­tion for subsequent authorizations to inter­cept private communications of the accused would be removed and those author­izations would be invalid, resulting in a breach of the accused's rights under s. 8 of the Charter.

The British Columbia Supreme Court held that: the search of the list of occupants of the lockers was not an unreasonable search contrary to s. 8 of the Charter; while instal­lation of the alarm without proper authoriz­ation was illegal, that illegality did not affect the validity of the search of the locker which was conducted under a valid general warrant; and although there were a few conclusory state­ments in the affidavit sworn in support of the general warrant, considering the total­ity of the information, there was a sufficient basis upon which the authorizing judge could issue the general warrant. The court further stated that, if it was incorrect in its con­clusions, then it would hold that exclusion of the evidence obtained as a result of the searches, if unlawful, would adversely affect the reputation of the administration of jus­tice.

Civil Rights - Topic 1508

Property - Expectation of privacy - See paragraph 40.

Civil Rights - Topic 1646

Property - Search and seizure - Unreason­able search and seizure defined - See paragraphs 21 to 25 and 28 to 30.

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - See paragraphs 41 to 74.

Civil Rights - Topic 8588

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Practice - Notice to Attorney General - See paragraphs 6 to 15.

Criminal Law - Topic 3046

Special powers - Search warrants - Valid­ity of - General - See paragraphs 28 to 30.

Criminal Law - Topic 3093

Special powers - Issue of search warrants - What constitutes reasonable grounds - See paragraphs 32 to 34.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Lee (1987), 37 C.C.C.(3d) 407 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Luksicek (M.) (1993), 23 B.C.A.C. 265; 39 W.A.C. 265 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Bonsell (W.D.) (1993), 22 B.C.A.C. 307; 38 W.A.C. 307 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Chamberlain (1994), 30 C.R.(4th) 275 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Franklin (1991), 49 O.A.C. 296; 66 C.C.C.(3d) 114 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Kutynec (1992), 52 O.A.C. 59; 70 C.C.C.(3d) 289 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Loveman (1992), 52 O.A.C. 94; 71 C.C.C.(3d) 123 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Dwernychuk (M.K.) (1992), 135 A.R. 31; 33 W.A.C. 31; 77 C.C.C.(3d) 385 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused (1993), 151 N.R. 400; 141 A.R. 317; 46 W.A.C. 317; 79 C.C.C.(3d)(vi) (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Loewen (J.K.) (1997), 123 Man.R.(2d) 198; 159 W.A.C. 198; 122 C.C.C.(3d) 198 (C.A.), refd to [para. 14].

R. v. Sanchez (1994), 93 C.C.C.(3d) 357 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Garofoli et al., [1990] 2 S.C.R. 1421; 116 N.R. 241; 43 O.A.C. 1; 36 Q.A.C. 161; 60 C.C.C.(3d) 161; 80 C.R.(3d) 317; 50 C.R.R. 206, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Hiscock (G.); R. v. Sauvé (P.) (1992), 46 Q.A.C. 263; 72 C.C.C.(3d) 303 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Wiley (R.W.), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 263; 158 N.R. 321; 34 B.C.A.C. 135; 56 W.A.C. 135; 84 C.C.C.(3d) 161, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Grant (D.), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 223; 159 N.R. 161; 35 B.C.A.C. 1; 57 W.A.C. 1; 84 C.C.C.(3d) 173; 24 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Veinot (K.A.) (1995), 144 N.S.R.(2d) 388; 416 A.P.R. 388 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Dyment, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 417; 89 N.R. 249; 73 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 13; 229 A.P.R. 13; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 244; 10 M.V.R.(2d) 1; 66 C.R.(3d) 348; 55 D.L.R.(4th) 503, refd to. [para. 21].

Québec (Sous-ministre du Revenu) et autres v. 143471 Canada Inc. et autres, [1994] 2 S.C.R. 339; 167 N.R. 321; 61 Q.A.C. 81; 31 C.R.(4th) 120, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Plant (R.S.), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 281; 157 N.R. 321; 145 A.R. 104; 55 W.A.C. 104; [1993] 8 W.W.R. 287; 84 C.C.C.(3d) 203, refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Church of Scientology of Toronto and Zaharia (1987), 18 O.A.C. 321; 31 C.C.C.(3d) 449 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. Arason (R.H.) and Desrosier (G.L.) (1992), 21 B.C.A.C. 20; 37 W.A.C. 20; 78 C.C.C.(3d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. Debot (1986), 17 O.A.C. 141; 30 C.C.C.(3d) 207 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].

Kami-Mark (Marketing) Inc. v. Quebec (Procureur général) (1997), 118 C.C.C.(3d) 80 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. LaRochelle, [1998] A.Q. No. 449 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. Belnavis (A.) and Lawrence (C.), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 341; 216 N.R. 161; 103 O.A.C. 81; 118 C.C.C.(3d) 405; 151 D.L.R.(4th) 443, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Edwards (C.), [1996] 1 S.C.R. 128; 192 N.R. 81; 88 O.A.C. 321; 104 C.C.C.(3d) 136, refd to. [para. 38].

Schreiber v. Canada (Attorney General), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 841; 225 N.R. 297; 124 C.C.C.(3d) 129, refd to. [para. 39].

R. v. Dawson (W.) (1997), 32 O.T.C. 257 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 41].

R. v. Kokesch, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 3; 121 N.R. 161; 61 C.C.C.(3d) 207; 1 C.R.(4th) 62; [1991] 1 W.W.R. 193; 51 B.C.L.R.(2d) 157; 50 C.R.R. 285, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Collins, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 265; 74 N.R. 276; 56 C.R.(3d) 193; [1987] 3 W.W.R. 699; 38 D.L.R.(4th) 508; 33 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 13 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1; 28 C.R.R. 122, refd to. [para. 45].

R. v. Jacoy, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 548; 89 N.R. 61; 66 C.R.(3d) 336; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 46, refd to. [para. 47].

R. v. Stillman (W.W.D.), [1997] 1 S.C.R. 607; 209 N.R. 81; 185 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 472 A.P.R. 1; 113 C.C.C.(3d) 321; 5 C.R.(5th) 1, refd to. [para. 47].

R. v. Bartle (K.), [1994] 3 S.C.R. 173; 172 N.R. 1; 74 O.A.C. 161; 92 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 33 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 52].

R. v. Couture (1998), 129 C.C.C.(3d) 302 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 53].

R. v. Wise, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 527; 133 N.R. 161; 51 O.A.C. 351; 70 C.C.C.(3d) 193, refd to. [para. 58].

R. v. Elshaw, [1991] 3 S.C.R. 24; 128 N.R. 241; 3 B.C.A.C. 81; 7 W.A.C. 81; 67 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 59 B.C.L.R.(2d) 143, refd to. [para. 59].

R. v. Church of Scientology of Toronto et al. (1997), 99 O.A.C. 321; 116 C.C.C.(3d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 60].

R. v. Duguay, Murphy and Sevigny, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 93; 91 N.R. 201; 31 O.A.C. 177; 46 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 62].

R. v. Genest, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 59; 91 N.R. 161; 19 Q.A.C. 163; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 67 C.R.(3d) 224; 37 C.R.R. 252, refd to. [para. 62].

R. v. Manninen, [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1233; 76 N.R. 198; 21 O.A.C. 192; 58 C.R.(3d) 97; 34 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 41 D.L.R.(4th) 301, refd to. [para. 62].

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. 62].

R. v. Laurin (R.R.) (1997), 98 O.A.C. 50; 113 C.C.C.(3d) 519 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. Lauda (J.M.) (1998), 106 O.A.C. 161; 122 C.C.C.(3d) 74 (C.A.), affd. [1998] 2 S.C.R. 683; 232 N.R. 1; 115 O.A.C. 293; 129 C.C.C.(3d) 225, refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. Lewis (D.E.) (1998), 107 O.A.C. 46; 122 C.C.C.(3d) 481 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 68].

R. v. Caslake (T.L.), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 51; 221 N.R. 281; 123 Man.R.(2d) 208; 159 W.A.C. 208, refd to. [para 69].

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. 70].

R. v. Généreux, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 259; 133 N.R. 241; 70 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 88 D.L.R.(4th) 110, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Duncanson, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 836; 135 N.R. 117; 97 Sask.R. 96; 12 W.A.C. 96, affing. (1991), 93 Sask.R. 193; 4 W.A.C. 193 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Harris & Lighthouse Video Centre Ltd. (1987), 20 O.A.C. 261; 35 C.C.C.(3d) 1 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused [1987] 2 S.C.R. vii; 86 N.R. 400; 25 O.A.C. 240, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Fish (1989), 25 O.A.C. 245; 44 C.R.R. 115 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Ottenbreit (1989), 77 Sask.R. 3 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Bailey (1988), 87 N.S.R.(2d) 245; 222 A.P.R. 245; 39 C.R.R. 378 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Siddall (1992), 110 N.S.R.(2d) 117; 299 A.P.R. 117 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 71].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Watt, David, Interception of Private Com­munications, Current Issues in Criminal Law, Canadian Bar Association, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, January 19, 1991, p. 28 [para. 19].

Counsel:

Peter Hogg and Paul Riley, for the Crown;

James Millar, for the accused, Russell;

Mark Hilford, for the accused, Grenfal;

Kevin Woodall, for the accused, McKay;

J. Douglas Jevning, for the accused, Ven­kataya;

Michael Klein, for the accused, Caldwell.

This application was heard on May 10-14 and 18-20, 1999, at Vancouver, British Col­umbia, before Romilly, J., of the British Columbia Supreme Court, who delivered the following decision on June 4, 1999.