M. McGuigan

The offender was found guilty of sexually interfering with and sexually assaulting his common-law wife's granddaughter over an eight-year period, beginning when the child was five years old.

The Crown sought a sentence of three to four years, while the defence proposed two years plus a day.

Applying the principles from R. v. Friesen, the court emphasized denunciation, deterrence, and the profound breach of trust involved.

The offender was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for sexual interference, with the sexual assault count stayed under the Kienapple principle, along with mandatory ancillary orders.

The accused was charged with multiple firearm offences after police found a loaded handgun in his pants during a takedown of a motor vehicle.

The accused testified that the front passenger suddenly dropped the gun onto his lap when police approached, and he instinctively shoved it down his pants in a panic.

The court accepted the accused's evidence and applied the 'hot potato' defence, finding that his brief, hasty handling of the firearm lacked the necessary control and mens rea to constitute culpable possession.

The accused was acquitted of all charges.

The appellant, a surgeon, appealed his conviction for sexually assaulting a hospital housekeeper.

He argued the trial judge made several errors in assessing credibility, including improperly considering race in finding a power imbalance, misapprehending evidence, and making a Browne and Dunn error.

The Summary Conviction Appeal Court dismissed the appeal, finding the trial judge properly based the power imbalance on the parties' respective roles in the hospital and made no reversible errors in his credibility assessments or application of the law.