Anne Dugas-Horsman

The appellant was acquitted at trial of welfare fraud after selling real property without informing social assistance authorities.

The trial judge found her conduct did not create a risk of deprivation exceeding $1,000 and that she honestly believed her circumstances had not changed to affect her entitlement, negating mens rea.

The Court of Appeal overturned the acquittal.

The Supreme Court of Canada allowed the appeal and restored the acquittal, finding the trial judge made no error of law.

The appellant appealed his conviction for second-degree murder, arguing that inculpatory statements made to undercover police officers after his release from custody were obtained in violation of his right to silence under section 7 of the Charter.

The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal, agreeing with the majority of the Court of Appeal that the appellant was not detained at the time the statements were made.

The Court further held that the police trickery used was not likely to shock the community or render the statements involuntary.