R. v. S.S.C., (2001) 301 A.R. 25 (QB)

• Judge: Lee, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: November 07, 2001
• Citations: (2001), 301 A.R. 25 (QB);2001 ABQB 959

R. v. S.S.C. (2001), 301 A.R. 25 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2001] A.R. TBEd. NO.084

Her Majesty the Queen v. S.S.C. (accused)

(Action No. 015084379 Q 1; 2001 ABQB 959)

Indexed As: R. v. S.S.C.

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Lee, J.

November 7, 2001.

Summary:

The accused was charged with sexual assault. He pleaded autrefois acquit.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench rejected the plea and substituted a plea of not guilty.

Criminal Law - Topic 4225

Procedure - Pleas - Plea of autrefois acquit - The accused grabbed a child's penis (the bathroom incident) - The accused was charged with simple assault - He pleaded not guilty and elected trial by Provincial Court judge - On the date set for trial, the Crown withdrew the information respecting the assault charge and introduced an amended four count information - The accused was committed to stand trial for sexual assault arising from the bathroom incident - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench rejected the accused's plea of autrefois acquit - The accused was not in jeopardy on the assault charge because no evidence had yet been called in the Provincial Court trial - The simple withdrawal by the Crown before evidence was called was not sufficient in this case to sustain the special plea of autrefois acquit.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Walsh (T.) (1996), 149 N.S.R.(2d) 169; 432 A.P.R. 169; 106 C.C.C.(3d) 462 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Maramba, [1995] O.J. No. 2358 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Karpinski (1957), 117 C.C.C. 241 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Blasko (1975), 33 C.R.N.S. 227 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Gould, [1985] 5 W.W.R. 430; 40 Sask.R. 173 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Mullen (1975), 25 C.C.C.(2d) 381 (Alta. Dist. Ct.), consd. [para. 20].

R. v. Blair and Karashowsky (1975), 25 C.C.C.(2d) 47 (Alta. C.A.), consd. [para. 20].

R. v. Riddle (1979), 29 N.R. 91; 18 A.R. 525; 48 C.C.C.(2d) 365 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 27].

R. v. Selhi (1990), 110 N.R. 318; 86 Sask.R. 253; 53 C.C.C.(3d) 576 (S.C.C.), affing. (1985), 38 Sask.R. 90; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 131 (C.A.), folld. [para. 32].

R. v. Conrad (1983), 58 N.S.R.(2d) 150; 123 A.P.R. 150; 6 C.C.C.(3d) 226 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused (1983), 52 N.R. 154; 59 N.S.R.(2d) 180; 125 A.P.R. 180 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 34].

R. v. Ennis, 1999 CarswellOnt 4091 (C.J.), consd. [para. 46].

R. v. Pan (R.W.); R. v. Sawyer (B.) (2001), 270 N.R. 317; 147 O.A.C. 1; 155 C.C.C.(3d) 97 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 56].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Friedland, Double Jeopardy (1969), p. 54 [para. 29].

Counsel:

William E. Gatward, for the Crown;

Shawn Beaver (Prigle and Associates), for the defence.

This matter was heard on November 5 and 6, 2001, by Lee, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following decision on November 7, 2001.