R. v. Volodtchenko (M.), (2015) 362 N.S.R.(2d) 57 (SC)

• Judge: Robertson, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: June 10, 2015
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (2015), 362 N.S.R.(2d) 57 (SC);2015 NSSC 211

R. v. Volodtchenko (M.) (2015), 362 N.S.R.(2d) 57 (SC);

    1142 A.P.R. 57

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] N.S.R.(2d) TBEd. JL.044

Maksym Volodtchenko (appellant) v. Her Majesty the Queen (respondent)

(Hfx. No. 436156A; 2015 NSSC 211)

Indexed As: R. v. Volodtchenko (M.)

Nova Scotia Supreme Court

Robertson, J.

June 10, 2015.

Summary:

The accused appealed from his conviction under s. 254(5) of the Criminal Code for failing or refusing to provide a breath sample into an approved screening device.

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court allowed the appeal, ordering a new trial.

Criminal Law - Topic 32

General principles - Mens rea and intention - Proof of mens rea - [See Criminal Law - Topic 1386.3 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 1386

Offences against person and reputation - Motor vehicles - Impaired driving - Roadside screening test - Excuse for refusal - [See Criminal Law - Topic 1386.3 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 1386.3

Offences against person and reputation - Motor vehicles - Impaired driving - Roadside screening test - Refusal - The accused appealed from his conviction under s. 254(5) of the Criminal Code for failing or refusing to provide a breath sample into an approved screening device - The Nova Scotia Supreme Court allowed the appeal, ordering a new trial - The trial judge misapplied the burden of proof by not evaluating the mens rea element of s. 254(5) on a reasonable doubt standard - The issues of the mens rea component of the offence and the defence of "reasonable excuse" required separate analyses - The trial judge seemed to find that "no air being provided" established the actus reas and that the mens rea had been made out - The accused's evidence was that he could not provide a breath sample because of tooth pain and had not intentionally failed to provide a breath sample - The trial judge failed to analyse this as evidence that negated the mens rea, but only reflected on this evidence as failing to raise a reasonable excuse - Failure to carry out the separate analyses was an error in law - Further, this gave the appearance that the trial judge had ignored the second and third steps of the R. v. D.W. (1991 S.C.C.) test.

Criminal Law - Topic 4351

Procedure - Charge or directions - Jury or judge alone - Directions regarding burden of proof and reasonable doubt - [See Criminal Law - Topic 1386.3 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 4356

Procedure - Charge or directions - Jury or judge alone - Directions regarding intent or mens rea - [See Criminal Law - Topic 1386.3 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 7633

Summary conviction proceedings - Appeals - New trials - Grounds - [See Criminal Law - Topic 1386.3 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 7661

Summary conviction proceedings - Appeals - Grounds - Misdirection re burden of proof and reasonable doubt - [See Criminal Law - Topic 1386.3 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. MacInnis (D.A.) (2014), 348 N.S.R.(2d) 211; 1100 A.P.R. 211; 2014 NSSC 262, refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Sellars (K.H.) (2013), 336 N.S.R.(2d) 204; 1063 A.P.R. 204; 2013 NSCA 129, refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. Goleski (G.A.) (2015), 467 N.R. 1; 365 B.C.A.C. 1; 627 W.A.C. 1; 2015 SCC 6, affing. (2014), 352 B.C.A.C. 142; 601 W.A.C. 142; 2014 BCCA 80, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Mercado (T.B.) (2013), 578 A.R. 366; 2013 ABPC 330, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Tikhonov, 2014 ONCJ 347, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Bain, [1985] N.S.J. No. 215, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Taraschuk (1975), 5 N.R. 507; 25 C.C.C.(2d) 108 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Westerman, 2012 ONCJ 9, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Peck (B.) (1994), 128 N.S.R.(2d) 206; 359 A.P.R. 206 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Barkhouse (P.) (2008), 260 N.S.R.(2d) 394; 831 A.P.R. 394; 2008 NSPC 2, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. D.W., [1991] 1 S.C.R. 742; 122 N.R. 277; 46 O.A.C. 352, refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. D.D.S. (2006), 242 N.S.R.(2d) 235; 770 A.P.R. 235; 2006 NSCA 34, refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. Carter, [2002] M.J. No. 270, refd to. [para. 30].

Counsel:

Philip J. Star, Q.C., for the appellant;

Scott Morrison, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard at Halifax, N.S., on June 10, 2015, by Robertson, J., of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, whose following decision was delivered orally on June 10, 2015, and in writing on July 23, 2015.