R. v. Sjoden, (1983) 48 A.R. 140 (QB)

• Judge: Wachowich, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: August 10, 1983
• Citations: (1983), 48 A.R. 140 (QB)

R. v. Sjoden (1983), 48 A.R. 140 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

R. v. Sjoden

(8203 0081)

Indexed As: R. v. Sjoden

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Wachowich, J.

August 10, 1983.

Summary:

The accused was committed for trial on three counts of an offence which occurred in December 1981. However, the indictment erroneously referred to only one charge, on which the accused was acquitted in September 1982. Realizing its error the Crown then brought another indictment on one of the other original charges. The arraignment was in November 1982; trial was originally set for March 1983, but on the request of the Crown was adjourned to September 1983. The accused applied for a determination of whether his right under s. 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to a trial within a reasonable time had been infringed.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the application and quashed the indictment.

Civil Rights - Topic 3265

Trials - Due process and fair hearings - Speedy trial - Accused's right to - Within reasonable time - What constitutes - Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, s. 11(b) - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench set out the considerations in determining whether an accused has been denied his right to trial within reasonable time and ruled that a 21 month delay through the fault of the Crown was unreasonable.

Civil Rights - Topic 8364

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Burden of proof - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench held that the burden was on the accused to show on a balance of probabilities that his rights were violated - See paragraph 10.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Cameron (1982), 39 A.R. 194, appld. [para. 3].

Barker v. Wingo (1972), 407 U.S. 514, appld. [para. 3].

R. v. Barkey (1982), 8 W.C.B. 259 (Ont. C.C.), appld. [para. 5].

R. v. Benson (1982), 68 C.C.C.(2d) 540, consd. [para. 7].

R. v. Wilson et al. (1982), 37 A.R. 170, consd. [para. 7].

R. v. Belton (1982), 19 Man. R. 132; 69 C.C.C.(2d) 542, consd. [para. 7].

Gray and the Queen, Re (1982), 70 C.C.C.(2d) 62, consd. [para. 7].

R. v. Hasselsjo (1982), 8 W.C.B. 261, consd. [para. 7].

R. v. Primeau (1982), 8 W.C.B. 262, consd. [para. 7].

R. v. Petahtegoose (1982), 8 W.C.B. 362, consd. [para. 7].

R. v. Wilson, [1982] Alta. D. 5980-04 (Alta. P.C.), consd. [para. 7].

R. v. Belcourt (1982), 69 C.C.C.(2d) 286, consd. [para. 8].

R. v. Leggo (1982), 69 C.C.C.(2d) 443, consd. [para. 8].

R. v. Cameron (1982), 8 W.C.B. 262, consd. [para. 8].

Coghlin and The Queen, Re (1982), 8 W.C.B. 245, consd. [para. 8].

R. v. Richardson and Debene (1982), 8 W.C.B. 263, consd. [para. 8].

R. v. Jack (1982), 8 W.C.B. 292, consd. [para. 8].

R. v. Balderstone (1982), 19 Man. R. 321; 9 W.C.B. 11, consd. [para. 8].

R. v. Mingo (No. 2) (1982), 8 W.C.B. 452, consd. [para. 8].

R. v. Daigle (1982), 9 W.C.B. 47, consd. [para. 8].

Burns and The Queen, Re (1982), 8 W.C.B. 449, consd. [para. 8].

R. v. Coleman, Coleman & McCormick, [1983] Alta. D. 5980-05; 46 A.R. 260 (Alta. P.C.), appld. [para. 10].

R. v. McCormick, [1983] Alta. D. 598005; 46 A.R. 260 (Alta. P.C.), appld. [para. 10].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 11(b) [para. 2].

Counsel:

D. Gibson, for the Crown;

J. A. Matheson and W.J. Watson, for the applicant.

This case was heard at Edmonton, Alberta, before Wachowich, J.A., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following judgment on August 10, 1983: