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 – November 15, 2025: Remand Retribution

by Pawel Milczarek | 15 November 2025 | Charter s.12, Self-Defence, Similar Fact | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v Whitlock, 2025 ONSC 6006: #remand s.12, R v EJ, 2025 ONSC 6016: #self-defence, R v CB, 2025 ONSC 6004: cross-count #similar fact R. v. Whitlock, 2025 ONSC 6006 [October 24, 2025] Charter s.12: Remand Retribution by Staff [Conlan J.] AUTHOR'S NOTE: Remand facilities are inherently dangerous environments. Remand prisoners—who are presumed innocent—face risks of violence and exploitation from fellow inmates for countless reasons. The foundational bargain...

The Defence Toolkit- November 8, 2025: Mandatory Minimums

by Pawel Milczarek | 8 November 2025 | Charter 10(b), Charter s.9, Mandatory Minimum, Sexual Assault | 0 Comments

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 s.12: Cruel and Unusual Punishment vs Mandatory Minimum [Majority Reasons by Moreau J. with Karakatsanis, Martin, Kasirer, and Jamal J.J. concurring and Wagner C.J., Cote, and Rowe, and O'Bonsawin dissenting JJ. dissenting] AUTHOR'S...

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

by Pawel Milczarek | 1 November 2025 | Experts, Fresh Evidence, Good Samaritan | 0 Comments

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 Reasons by Karakatsanis J. with Wagner C.J. and Martin, Kasirer, O'Bonsawin and Moreau JJ. concurring and Jamal, Cote, and Rowe dissenting JJ. dissenting] AUTHOR'S NOTE: Immunity from Arrest under the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act...

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....

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...

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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...

The Defence Toolkit – September 6, 2025: The Grainy Video and Circumstantial Evidence

Sep 6, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Meier, 2025 MBCA 74: #gun #video circumstantial, R v DL, 2025 SKCA 498: #excessive intervention, R v Moore, 2025 PECA 589: cross on #discreditable R v Meier, 2025 MBCA 74 [August 18, 2025] Circumstantial Evidence: Video Recording...

The Defence Toolkit – August 30, 2025: A Group Attack

Aug 30, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v Sels, 2025 ONCA 592: #defence v group, R v Singh, 2025 ONCA 498: directed #verdict guilty?, R v Pierre, 2025 ABCA 589: #instructions after-the-fact R v Sels, 2025 ONCA 592 [August 14, 2025] Self Defence: Against a Perceived Group...

The Defence Toolkit – August 16, 2025: Reasons for Non-Consent

Aug 16, 2025

This week's top three summaries: R v PE, 2025 ABCA 272: prior #victimization, R v Thomson, 2025 ONCA 500: s.10(b) strip #search, R v Harding, 2025 ABCA 266: preventing #cross R v PE, 2025 ABCA 272 [August 8, 2025] Crown-led Sexual History Evidence: Prior Sexual...

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