The applicant, convicted of fraud and sentenced to 5.5 years in prison with significant restitution and fines, applied for the appointment of counsel for his appeal under s. 684 of the Criminal Code after being denied Legal Aid.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the application, finding that the proposed grounds of appeal primarily contested factual findings and lacked merit.
Furthermore, the applicant failed to adequately explain the whereabouts of the defrauded funds or prove his lack of financial means, and the court concluded he was capable of advancing his own arguments given his business experience and the materials prepared by his trial counsel.
