The Defence Toolkit

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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 – January 10, 2026: After the Fact Demeanour

by Pawel Milczarek | 10 January 2026 | Accused Exculpatory Testimony - Fabrication, After the Fact Conduct, Bad Character Evidence | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v Townsend, 2025 BCCA 459: #after the fact, R v ZML, 2025 ONCA 872: accused #fabrication, R v Meeko, 2025 NUCA 12: #bad character R v Townsend, 2025 BCCA 459 [December 22, 2025] After the Fact Conduct: Post Offence Demeanour [Reasons by Justice MacNaughton with Horsman and Fleming JJ.A. concurring] AUTHOR'S NOTE: Frustration is an inherently ambiguous human emotion. It may arise from culpable conduct, but it may just as readily result from any number of...

The Defence Toolkit – December 20, 2025: Christmas Cheer from the Courts

by Pawel Milczarek | 20 December 2025 | Charter s.9, Eye-Witness Identification, Power of Arrest, Sexual History s 276 | 0 Comments

This week's top three summaries: R v Carignan, 2025 SCC 43: s.9 #arrest, R v Stuart, 2025 ABCA 404: #cross & s.276, R v Linklater, 2025 MBCA 104: #eye-witness ID R v Carignan, 2025 SCC 43 [December 12, 2025] Charter s.9 - The Power to Arrest is Limited by s. 495(2) [Reasons by Côté J. with Wagner C.J., and Karakatsanis, Rowe, Martin, Kasirer, Jamal, O'Bonsawin and M, concurring] AUTHOR'S NOTE: The police power of arrest is constrained not only by the requirement of reasonable grounds,...

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 22, 2025: Functioning Technology

Nov 22, 2025

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....

The Defence Toolkit – November 15, 2025: Remand Retribution

Nov 15, 2025

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...

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...

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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....

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...

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