The Defence Toolkit

The Defence Toolkit serves up summaries and commentary on the editor’s choice of the three best Canadian criminal defence cases every week. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to get notified of new posts.

The Defence Toolkit – December 6, 2025: Courtroom Confrontation

by Pawel Milczarek | 6 December 2025 | Bail Pending Appeal, Browne v Dunn, Charter s.8, Smell of Marijuana | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v McDonald, 2025 ONCA 807: Browne v Dunn, R v Brennan, 2025 ONSC 6116: s.8 #marijuana smell, R v MR, 2025 ONCA 789: #appeal bail R v McDonald, 2025 ONCA 807 [November 25, 2025] The Rule in Browne v Dunn [Reasons by Fairburn A.C.J.O., with David M. Paciocco and A. Harvison Young JJ.A. concurring] AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Rule in Browne v. Dunn is grounded in trial fairness, which means its application is highly fact-specific. The jurisprudence does not require...

The Defence Toolkit – November 29, 2025: Cutthroat Fallout

by Pawel Milczarek | 29 November 2025 | After the Fact Conduct, Bad Character Evidence, Charter s.8, The W(D) Instruction, Witness Interviews | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v Demetroff, 2025 ABCA 373: #after the fact, R v BR, 2025 ABKB 659: s.8 school #principal, R v Robinson, 2025 ABCJ 196: #witnesses R v Demetroff, 2025 ABCA 373 [November 14, 2025] W(D): Statements led by the Crown, After the Fact Conduct: Proven False Statements, Bad Character Evidence [Jolaine Antonio, Kevin Feth, and Tamara Friesen JJ.A.] AUTHOR'S NOTE: This case deals with the W(D) instruction, After the Fact Conduct, and Bad Character Evidence. In a...

The Defence Toolkit – November 22, 2025: Functioning Technology

by Pawel Milczarek | 22 November 2025 | Discharge, NCRMD, Sentencing, Technology | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v Bjil, 2025 SKCA 116: #technology, R v Lessard, 2025 ONCA 760: #NCRMD, R v Krelove, 2025 ONSC 6004: #domestic discharge R v Bijl, 2025 SKCA 116 [November 13, 2025] Evidence of Functioning Technology: Radar [Reasons by Kilback J.A. with Tholl and Bardai JJ.A. concurring] AUTHOR'S NOTE: As law enforcement continues to expand its reliance on technology—AI facial recognition, rapid DNA analysis, automated licence-plate readers, and more—courts must remain...

The Defence Toolkit- November 8, 2025: Mandatory Minimums

Nov 8, 2025

This week's top three summaries: Quebec (AG) v Senneville, 2025 SCC 33: min #sentence, R v Hutton, 2025 ABCA 356: 271 mens rea, R v Backfat, 2025 ABCJ 183: #delayed counsel and release Quebec (Attorney General) v. Senneville, 2025 SCC 33 [October 31, 2025] Charter...

The Defence Toolkit – November 1, 2025: The Good Samaritan

Nov 1, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Wilson, 2025 SCC 32: #GoodSamaritan, R v Ukuqtunnuaq, 2025 NUCA 8: #fresh evidence, R v Liu, 2025 SKCA 98: #expert evidence R. v. Wilson, 2025 SCC 32 [October 24, 2025] The Good Samaritan Exception to Drug Possession [Majority...

The Defence Toolkit – October 25, 2025: Expert Experience and Bias

Oct 25, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Matthews, 2025 ABKB 597: #expert bias, R v RL, 2025 ONCA 691: #acquittal appeal, R v Wilson, 2025 ABCA 337: #contempt R. v. Matthews, 2025 ABKB 597 [October 14, 2025] Expert Evidence: Experience and Bias [Justice Lisa A. Silver]...

The Defence Toolkit – October 18, 2025: Criminal Defence Crisis

Oct 18, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v BN, 2025 ABKB 535: #ineffective lawyer, R v Shah, 2025 ABKB 535: s.8 #informant, R v Mohamed Mussa, 2025 ABKB 543: #circumstantial ID R. v. BN, 2025 ABKB 535 [September 18, 2025] Ineffective Assistance of Counsel [Justice C.D....

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The Defence Toolkit – October 11, 2025: The Right to Full Cross-Examination

Oct 11, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v IMB, 2025 ONCA 678: #cross & #demeanour, R v Daignault, 2025 ABCA 328: #cross & Vetrovec, R v Penner, 2025 YKCA 14: 271 #relating to evidence R. v. I.M.B., 2025 ONCA 678 [October 1, 2025] Reliance on Evidence when Curtailed...

The Defence Toolkit – October 4, 2025: Police Agents

Oct 4, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Pham, 2025 BCCA 324: police #agent, R v KWP, 2025 ABCA 312: judge #propensity, R v IJM, 2025 ABCA 311: 271 #delayed report R. v. Pham, 2025 BCCA 324 [September 17, 2025] Charter s.8: Corporate Police Agency [Reasons by Dewitt-Van...

The Defence Toolkit – September 20, 2025: Common Unlawful Purpose

Sep 20, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Mohamed, 2025 ONCA 611: #parties 21(2), R v Hambleton, 2025 ONSC 5061: #bias appeals, R v JC, 2025 ABCJ 120: #possession hot potato R. v. Mohamed, 2025 ONCA 611 [September 5, 2025] s.21(2) Common Unlawful Purpose and Murder...

The Defence Toolkit – September 13, 2025: Mens Rea and Failure Offences

Sep 13, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Emereuwa, 2025 SKCA 83: #failure and intent, R v Dos Santos, 2025 ONCA 598: 11(b) #mistrial, R v DM, 2025 ABCJ 134: #alibi R v Emereuwa, 2025 SKCA 83 [September 3, 2025] Statutory Interpretation of Required Mens Rea and Failure to...

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