Gary Grill

The accused, charged with manslaughter alongside two co-accused, sought to bring several pre-trial applications, including a recusal motion, a jurisdictional challenge against transferring the trial out of Brampton, a section 10(b) Charter application, and an application for removal of counsel.

Due to counsel's medical issues and scheduling conflicts, the court had to set a firm timetable for the filing of materials and the hearing of these applications to ensure the scheduled trial date could be maintained.

The court ordered strict deadlines for the filing of application records and factums, scheduling the recusal application first, followed by the substantive applications.

The case involves three accused charged with manslaughter.

Due to courtroom shortages in Brampton, the trial was scheduled to be held in Kitchener.

Counsel for one of the accused suffered medical issues, leading to an adjournment.

Counsel subsequently indicated an intention to bring motions to transfer the trial back to Brampton or be removed from the record, but later attempted to unilaterally delay bringing these motions.

The case management judge rejected this delay, emphasizing the need for efficiency under the Jordan framework, and ordered strict deadlines for the defence to perfect any such applications.

The appellant appealed from convictions for possession for the purpose of trafficking in crystal methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of marihuana, and possession of proceeds of crime.

Drugs and cash were found in the appellant's apartment pursuant to a search warrant obtained in relation to alleged criminal activity by the appellant's former roommate.

The appellant claimed he did not know the drugs were in his apartment and that the cash came from legitimate sources.

The Court of Appeal rejected three grounds of appeal: that the trial judge erred in finding sufficient basis for the search warrant, that she erred in assessing the appellant's credibility, and that her reasons for conviction were insufficient.

The appeal was allowed only to the extent of vacating the conviction for possession of marihuana, as the trial judge lacked jurisdiction to hear that count as a summary conviction offence.

The defendant, an animal rights activist, was charged with mischief to property under section 430(1)(c) of the Criminal Code for giving water to pigs in a transport truck stopped at a traffic light in Burlington, Ontario.

The Crown alleged she gave an unknown substance that created a risk the slaughterhouse would refuse the load.

The court found the defendant gave water, not a contaminant, and that her actions did not obstruct, interrupt, or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment, or operation of property.

The court also found no evidence of willfulness.

The charge was dismissed.

A preliminary inquiry into the first-degree murder of Rala Fredrick, who was shot execution-style on George Street in Toronto on July 6, 2014.

The Crown's case was entirely circumstantial, relying on eyewitness testimony from individuals at a men's shelter who were under the influence of drugs and alcohol, combined with CCTV surveillance footage.

No direct evidence linked either defendant to the shooting, no gun was recovered, and no witness identified the shooter.

The judge found sufficient circumstantial evidence to commit both defendants to trial, though expressed serious reservations about the weakness of the case, particularly regarding eyewitness reliability and inconsistencies in their descriptions.

The accused was convicted of trafficking in cocaine and possession of cannabis resin following trial.

The sentencing hearing addressed four key issues: whether to impose a parole ineligibility order under section 743.6 of the Criminal Code; the constitutionality of section 719(3.1) limiting pre-sentence custody credit; the appropriate credit for pre-sentence custody; and the admissibility of evidence from an intervening unrelated trial.

The court declined to impose a parole ineligibility order, found section 719(3.1) unconstitutional as applied, granted reduced credit for pre-sentence custody, and excluded evidence from the intervening trial.

The accused was sentenced to five and one-half years imprisonment with 730 days credit for 608 days of pre-sentence custody.

In this drug trafficking trial arising from Project Wanipitee, the court applied the Carter test to determine whether intercepted communications could be admitted under the co-conspirator's exception to the hearsay rule.

The court found that a joint enterprise existed between the accused and others to traffic cocaine in the Durham Region.

The court identified the accused on intercepted communications through circumstantial evidence including surveillance, text message patterns, and physical movements.

The court convicted the accused of trafficking cocaine on two dates and possession of cocaine for trafficking purposes.

The court acquitted on charges related to marijuana possession and possession of cocaine at a separate location due to insufficient evidence of possession and control.

The accused brought a Charter application seeking a stay of proceedings based on delay in completing his bail hearing, alleging violations of ss. 7, 9, and 11(e) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The accused argued that the justice of the peace and Crown prosecutor caused an unlawful adjournment exceeding the three‑day limit under s. 516 of the Criminal Code and demonstrated disregard for the accused’s liberty interests.

The court held that defence counsel consented to the adjournment and therefore no illegal adjournment occurred.

The court further found that neither the Crown prosecutor nor the justice of the peace acted improperly or breached the accused’s Charter rights.

Although the 32‑day duration of the bail hearing was unacceptable, it did not justify the extraordinary remedy of a stay of proceedings.