R. v. Wu (J.J.) et al., (1999) 107 O.T.C. 259 (SC)

• Judge: Caswell, J.
• Court: Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)
• Case Date: October 07, 1999
• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Citations: (1999), 107 O.T.C. 259 (SC)

R. v. Wu (J.J.) (1999), 107 O.T.C. 259 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1999] O.T.C. TBEd. OC.161

Her Majesty The Queen v. Jing Jing Wu and Shu Tong Lee

(2314/98)

Indexed As: R. v. Wu (J.J.) et al.

Court of Ontario

Superior Court of Justice

Caswell, J.

October 7, 1999.

Summary:

The accused were charged with importing heroin and possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking. The accused were en route from Hong Kong to Toronto. A teletype by airlines personnel on board advised of suspicious behaviour by the two accused, loud banging noises in the airplane washrooms and identical carry on bags, which both accused guarded closely. When the aircraft landed, narcotics (heroin) was found in the washrooms. Customs officials were advised. The two accused had already been released from the secondary inspection area. One accused (Wu) could not be found. The other (Lee) was found and asked to return to the secondary inspection area. Lee claimed he did not know Wu and that he was visiting his cousin. Lee only had his cousin's cell phone number. When the number was called, Wu answered. Wu, unaware of Lee's predicament, came to the airport to pick him up. Both were arrested without warrant and advised of their Charter rights. The Crown sought to admit all documentary and physical evidence obtained from searches and fingerprint evidence. The accused submitted that, inter alia, they were unlawfully detained, subjected to unreasonable searches and seizures and denied their right to counsel. The accused sought exclusion of all evidence, including the fingerprint evidence.

The Ontario Superior Court held that the accused's Charter rights were not denied. Alternatively, the court would not exclude the non-conscriptive evidence under s. 24(2) of the Charter.

Civil Rights - Topic 1217

Security of the person - Lawful or reasonable search - What constitutes unreasonable search and seizure - See paragraphs 8 to 61.

Civil Rights - Topic 1406

Security of the person - Law enforcement - Fingerprinting - See paragraphs 8 to 61.

Civil Rights - Topic 1423

Security of the person - Border searches - Strip searches - See paragraphs 8 to 61.

Civil Rights - Topic 1508

Property - General principles - Expectation of privacy - See paragraphs 8 to 61.

Civil Rights - Topic 3604

Detention and imprisonment - Detention - What constitutes detention - See paragraphs 8 to 61.

Civil Rights - Topic 4657

Right to counsel - Entitlement - Border searches - Immigration interviews - See paragraphs 8 to 61.

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - See paragraphs 8 to 61.

Customs - Topic 2826

Report and entry inwards - Customs officers - Powers and duties - Arrest and detention - See paragraphs 8 to 61.

Customs - Topic 3025

Search and seizure - Search - Warrantless searches - See paragraphs 8 to 61.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Marin, [1994] O.J. No. 1280 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Jacques (J.R.) and Mitchell (M.M.), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 312; 202 N.R. 49; 180 N.B.R.(2d) 161; 458 A.P.R. 161; 110 C.C.C.(3d) 1, affing. (1995), 157 N.B.R.(2d) 195; 404 A.P.R. 195; 95 C.C.C.(3d) 238 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Storrey, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 241; 105 N.R. 81; 37 O.A.C. 161; 53 C.C.C.(3d) 316, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Golub (D.J.) (1997), 102 O.A.C. 176; 117 C.C.C.(3d) 193 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Duguay, Murphy and Sevigny (1985), 8 O.A.C. 31; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 289 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Dedman (1981), 59 C.C.C.(2d) 97 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Prosper (1994), 172 N.R. 161; 133 N.S.R.(2d) 321; 380 A.P.R. 321; 92 C.C.C.(3d) 353 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 39].

R. v. Therens, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 613; 59 N.R. 122; 40 Sask.R. 122; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 655; [1985] 4 W.W.R. 286; 32 M.V.R. 153; 45 C.R.(3d) 97; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 481, refd to. [para. 39].

R. v. Simmons, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 495; 89 N.R. 1; 30 O.A.C. 241; 66 C.R.(3d) 297; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 296, refd to. [para. 42].

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, refd to. [para. 43].

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, refd to. [para. 49].

R. v. Monney (I.) (1999), 237 N.R. 157; 119 O.A.C. 272; 133 C.C.C.(3d) 129 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 49].

R. v. Beare; R. v. Higgins, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 387; 88 N.R. 205; 71 Sask.R. 1; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 57, refd to. [para. 55].

R. v. Bourque (1995), 103 C.C.C.(3d) 559 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 56].

R. v. Feeney (M.), [1997] 2 S.C.R. 13; 212 N.R. 83; 91 B.C.A.C. 1; 148 W.A.C. 1; 115 C.C.C.(3d) 129, refd to. [para. 59].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 7, sect. 8, sect. 9, sect. 10, sect. 24 [Schedule A].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 495(1)(a) [Schedule A].

Customs Act, R.S.C. 1985 (2nd Supp.), c. 1, sect. 98(1)(a) [Schedule A].

Identification of Criminals Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. I-1, sect. 2(1)(a) [Schedule A].

Counsel:

G. Reynolds and A. Maini, for the Crown;

G. Orr, Q.C., for Mr. Wu;

C. Adams, for Mr. Lee.

This application was heard on August 30 and September 1-4 and 8-9, 1999, before Caswell, J., of the Ontario Superior Court, whose following judgment was released on October 7, 1999.