R. v. Winsor (W.S.), (2014) 355 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 134 (NLPC)

• Judge: Gorman, P.C.J.
• Case Date: September 30, 2014
• Jurisdiction: Newfoundland and Labrador
• Citations: (2014), 355 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 134 (NLPC);2014 NLPC 1312

R. v. Winsor (W.S.) (2014), 355 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 134 (NLPC);

    1106 A.P.R. 134

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2014] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. TBEd. OC.001

Her Majesty the Queen v. Wayne Scott Winsor

(2014 NLPC 1312A00959)

Indexed As: R. v. Winsor (W.S.)

Newfoundland and Labrador

Provincial Court

Gorman, P.C.J.

October 3, 2014.

Summary:

The accused was a long haul truck driver who was transporting a load of playground equipment from Ontario to Newfoundland. Police received information from a confidential source indicating that a controlled substance was being transported. As a result, police arrested the accused and searched the tractor trailer. They found cannabis marijuana, methamphetamine and contraband tobacco, which the Crown sought to enter as evidence at the accused's trial for alleged breaches of ss. 4(1) and 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, s. 32 of the Excise Act, and s. 32 of the Revenue Administration Act. The accused applied pursuant to s. 24(2) of the Charter for exclusion of the seized items, arguing that his ss. 8, 9 and 10(b) Charter rights were violated.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court, in a decision reported at (2014), 345 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 266; 1974 A.P.R. 266, dismissed the application. There were no Charter violations, and even if there were, the court would not have excluded the evidence. In the course of deciding the case, the court made comments respecting the accused not being "an impressive witness". The charges proceeded to trial before the same judge who decided the Charter application. The accused applied to have the judge recuse himself on the basis that the credibility findings raised a reasonable apprehension of bias.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court, in a decision reported at (2014), 349 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 105; 1085 A.P.R. 105, dismissed the application.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court, in a decision reported at [2014] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. Uned. 32, found the accused guilty of four counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (2.5 lbs of cannabis marijuana), possession of contraband (160 cigars), and possession of unstamped tobacco products (90,000 cigarettes).

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court granted an absolute discharge for the four counts of possession, sentenced the accused to one year of conditional imprisonment for possession for the purpose of trafficking, and imposed a fine of $15,346.40 for possession of contraband. For possession of unstamped tobacco products, the court imposed a $300 fine, a tax due order of $18,720.80, and an additional fine of $56,162.40.

Criminal Law - Topic 4430

Procedure - Verdicts, discharges and dismissals - Discharge - Absolute or unconditional discharge in lieu of conviction - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5627

Punishments (sentence) - Fines, penalties and compensation orders - Victim fine surcharge - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5631

Punishments (sentence) - Fines, penalties and compensation orders - Fine - Default - Imprisonment - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5830.8

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Drug and narcotic offences - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5853

Sentence - Trafficking in hashish or marihuana (incl. possession for purposes of trafficking) - Winsor, a 50 year old long haul truck driver, was charged with offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Excise Act, and the Revenue Administration Act after various substances were found in his tractor trailer - He was found guilty of four counts of possession of controlled substances (methamphetamine, benzylpiperazine, methylenedioxypyrovalerone, and 2.5 lbs of cannabis marijuana), possession of cannabis marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, possession of contraband (160 cigars), and possession of unstamped tobacco products (90,000 cigarettes) - His involvement in the offences was purely for financial gain - The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court granted an absolute discharge for the four counts of possession, and sentenced Winsor to one year of conditional imprisonment for possession for the purpose of trafficking - Winsor did not constitute a danger to the public - He had a criminal record, but it was dated and he had no history of violence - A conditional sentence was also appropriate because it would be proportionate, act as a general and specific deterrent, and promote Winsor's rehabilitation - For possession of contraband, Winsor was fined $15,346.40 - For possession of unstamped tobacco products, the court imposed a $300 fine (30 days' imprisonment in the event of default), a tax due order of $18,720.80 (90 days' imprisonment in the event of default), and an additional fine of $56,162.40 (150 days' imprisonment in the event of default) - Considering these financial penalties, the victim surcharge was waived as it would constitute an undue hardship.

Criminal Law - Topic 5878

Sentence - Possession, cultivation or production of a narcotic or a controlled drug or substance - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Sales and Service Taxes - Topic 710

Sales tax - Collection and enforcement - Offences and penalties - Sale or possession of unstamped tobacco products - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Sales and Service Taxes - Topic 3842

Tobacco tax - Offences and penalties - Contraband, possession, sales, etc. - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Lundrigan (D.A.) (2012), 324 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 270; 1007 A.P.R. 270; 2012 NLCA 43, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Knott (D.W.) et al. (2012), 433 N.R. 38; 324 B.C.A.C. 1; 551 W.A.C. 1; 2012 SCC 42, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Berner (C.-A.) (2013), 337 B.C.A.C. 146; 576 W.A.C. 146; 2013 BCCA 188, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Cluney (N.) (2013), 338 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 57; 1049 A.P.R. 57; 2013 NLCA 46, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Briand (R.) et al. (2010), 302 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 67; 938 A.P.R. 67; 2010 NLCA 67, refd to. [para. 19].

Elias v. R.; Issa v. R., [2013] HCA 31, refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Gobran (G.) (2013), 308 O.A.C. 12; 2013 ONCA 407, refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. McIntyre (M.R.) (2012), 405 Sask.R. 28; 563 W.A.C. 28; 2012 SKCA 111, refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Crowder, 2010 QCCA 1378, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Topp (J.P.), [2011] 3 S.C.R. 119; 421 N.R. 95; 283 O.A.C. 1; 2011 SCC 43, refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Wu (Y.), [2003] 3 S.C.R. 530; 313 N.R. 201; 182 O.A.C. 6; 2003 SCC 73, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. Noseworthy (J.A.) (2000), 192 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 120; 580 A.P.R. 120; 147 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 2000 NFCA 45, refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Tan (C.) (2008), 268 O.A.C. 385 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 45].

R. v. St. Croix (J.) (2014), 348 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 1; 1082 A.P.R. 1 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 52].

R. v. D.H. (2012), 317 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 244; 986 A.P.R. 244; 2012 NLCA 5, refd to. [para. 58].

R. v. Fizzard (S.) et al. (2012), 330 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 301; 1026 A.P.R. 301; 2012 NLCA 80, refd to. [para. 59].

R. v. J.E.M. (2004), 236 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 239; 700 A.P.R. 239 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 61].

R. v. Collins (D.J.) (2009), 286 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 225; 883 A.P.R. 225; 2009 NLTD 33, refd to. [para. 62].

R. v. Farrell, [2010] N.J. No. 393 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 63].

R. v. Worth (J.) (2013), 336 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 32; 1043 A.P.R. 32; 2012 NLTD(G) 55, refd to. [para. 64].

R. v. Lilly (D.) (2012), 328 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 210; 1019 A.P.R. 210; 2012 NLTD(G) 159, refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Aylward (D.) (2013), 335 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 349; 1040 A.P.R. 349 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 66].

R. v. Edwards (P.) (2013), 340 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 189; 1057 A.P.R. 189 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. Young (G.T.), [2014] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. Uned. 22 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 68].

R. v. Taylor (E.) (2013), 337 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 24; 1047 A.P.R. 24; 2013 NLCA 42, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Burke (R.E.) (2013), 339 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 30; 1054 A.P.R. 30 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. McNeil (S.J.) (2013), 340 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 42; 1057 A.P.R. 42; 2013 NLCA 52, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Tororak, [2013] N.J. No. 353 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Hewlett (C.A.) (2013), 336 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 35; 1043 A.P.R. 35; 2013 NLTD(G) 66, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Lord (S.W.) (2013), 332 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 108; 1030 A.P.R. 108; 2013 NTLD(G) 5, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Hawco (N.G.) (2013), 335 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 318; 1040 A.P.R. 318 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Martin (E.) (2012), 327 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 27; 1015 A.P.R. 27; 2012 NLTD(G) 128, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Mayo (G.K.), [2012] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. Uned. 5 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Gendron (M.) (2012), 320 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 75; 993 A.P.R. 75; 2012 NLTD(G) 35, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Archibald (C.) (2012), 319 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 121; 992 A.P.R. 121; 2012 NLTD(G) 43, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Roach (W.) (2012), 328 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 334; 1019 A.P.R. 334; 2012 NLTD(G) 153, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Parsons (S.) (2012), 332 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 287; 1030 A.P.R. 287; 2012 NLTD(G) 192, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Moores (K.) (2013), 332 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 11; 1030 A.P.R. 11; 2013 NLTD(G) 10, refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Woodford (A.) (2013), 335 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 336; 1040 A.P.R. 336 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Adams (K.) (2014), 349 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 140; 1085 A.P.R. 140 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 72].

R. v. Stacey (D.M.) et al. (1999), 175 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 78; 537 A.P.R. 78 (N.L.T.D.), refd to. [para. 74].

R. v. Strickland (A.P.) (2010), 294 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 190; 908 A.P.R. 190; 2010 NLTD 2, refd to. [para. 75].

R. v. Crews (A.) et al. (2011), 312 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 126; 971 A.P.R. 126 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 76].

R. v. Ferrie (C.M.) (2014), 355 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 120; 1106 A.P.R. 120; 2014 NLTD(G) 112, refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Allen (D.) (2011), 316 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 26; 982 A.P.R. 26 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 87].

R. v. Khatchatourov (A.) et al. (2014), 323 O.A.C. 389; 2014 ONCA 464, refd to. [para. 90].

R. v. Hamel (S.) (2006), 303 N.B.R.(2d) 386; 787 A.P.R. 386; 2006 NBCA 76, refd to. [para. 90].

R. v. Hackett (T.M.) (2013), 345 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 1; 1074 A.P.R. 1 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 92].

Counsel:

D. Singleton, for Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada;

L. St. Croix, for Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Newfoundland and Labrador;

R. Matthews, Q.C., for Mr. Winsor.

This matter was heard at Corner Brook, N.L., on September 30, 2014, before Gorman, P.C.J., of the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment on October 3, 2014.