The appellant, charged with aggravated sexual assault, was referred to a psychiatrist by his counsel.
The appellant detailed plans to kidnap, rape, and kill prostitutes.
The psychiatrist concluded the appellant posed a severe and imminent danger to the public and sought to disclose this information despite solicitor-client privilege.
The Supreme Court of Canada held that solicitor-client privilege may be set aside where there is a clear, serious, and imminent threat to public safety.
The Court ordered the disclosure of the portions of the psychiatrist's affidavit that fell within this public safety exception.
