W A R N I N G
The President of the panel hearing this appeal directs that the following should be attached to the file:
An order restricting publication in this proceeding under ss. 486.5(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) or (9) or 486.6(1) or (2) of the Criminal Code shall continue. These sections of the Criminal Code provide:
486.5 (1) Unless an order is made under section 486.4, on application of the prosecutor, a victim or a witness, a judge or justice may make an order directing that any information that could identify the victim or witness shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way if the judge or justice is satisfied that the order is necessary for the proper administration of justice.
(2) On application of a justice system participant who is involved in proceedings in respect of an offence referred to in subsection 486.2(5) or of the prosecutor in those proceedings, a judge or justice may make an order directing that any information that could identify the justice system participant shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way if the judge or justice is satisfied that the order is necessary for the proper administration of justice.
(3) An order made under this section does not apply in respect of the disclosure of information in the course of the administration of justice if it is not the purpose of the disclosure to make the information known in the community.
(4) An applicant for an order shall
(a) apply in writing to the presiding judge or justice or, if the judge or justice has not been determined, to a judge of a superior court of criminal jurisdiction in the judicial district where the proceedings will take place; and
(b) provide notice of the application to the prosecutor, the accused and any other person affected by the order that the judge or justice specifies.
(5) An applicant for an order shall set out the grounds on which the applicant relies to establish that the order is necessary for the proper administration of justice.
(6) The judge or justice may hold a hearing to determine whether an order should be made, and the hearing may be in private.
(7) In determining whether to make an order, the judge or justice shall consider
(a) the right to a fair and public hearing;
(b) whether there is a real and substantial risk that the victim, witness or justice system participant would suffer significant harm if their identity were disclosed;
(c) whether the victim, witness or justice system participant needs the order for their security or to protect them from intimidation or retaliation;
(d) society’s interest in encouraging the reporting of offences and the participation of victims, witnesses and justice system participants in the criminal justice process;
(e) whether effective alternatives are available to protect the identity of the victim, witness or justice system participant;
(f) the salutary and deleterious effects of the proposed order;
(g) the impact of the proposed order on the freedom of expression of those affected by it; and
(h) any other factor that the judge or justice considers relevant.
(8) An order may be subject to any conditions that the judge or justice thinks fit.
(9) Unless the judge or justice refuses to make an order, no person shall publish in any document or broadcast or transmit in any way
(a) the contents of an application;
(b) any evidence taken, information given or submissions made at a hearing under subsection (6); or
(c) any other information that could identify the person to whom the application relates as a victim, witness or justice system participant in the proceedings. 2005, c. 32, s. 15.
486.6 (1) Every person who fails to comply with an order made under subsection 486.4(1), (2) or (3) or 486.5(1) or (2) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
(2) For greater certainty, an order referred to in subsection (1) applies to prohibit, in relation to proceedings taken against any person who fails to comply with the order, the publication in any document or the broadcasting or transmission in any way of information that could identify a victim, witness or justice system participant whose identity is protected by the order. 205, c. 32, s. 15.
CITATION: R. v. J.M., 2008 ONCA 450
DATE: 20080609
DOCKET: C45534
COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO
ROSENBERG, FELDMAN and MacPHERSON JJ.A.
BETWEEN:
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
Respondent
and
J.M.
Appellant
James Carlisle for the appellant
Nadia Thomas for the respondent
Heard and released orally: May 27, 2008
On appeal from conviction by Justice J. Colins of the Ontario Court of Justice dated October 24, 2005 and the S.O.I.R.A. order dated December 7, 2005.
ENDORSEMENT
[1] The appellant raises several grounds of appeal against conviction.
(1) The verdict is unreasonable
[2] Aside from count number 5 for which the Crown concedes there is no evidence, there was substantial direct evidence from the complainant for all of the elements of all of the other offences.
(2) The adequacy of reasons
[3] The reasons while brief are responsive to the issues raised. An essential aspect of the case was the tape recorded conversation. The appellant’s explanations for his statements to the complainant in that tape were on their face non-responsive and generally inculpatory and did require an extensive review by the trial judge.
(3) Admissibility of the tape
[4] No objection was taken to the admissibility of the tape. It was clearly admissible to explain the appellant’s responses. More importantly, this was not a case of silence. The appellant responded to the complainant’s allegations. It was open to the trial judge to find that he had by his responses and his failure to deny the truth adopted the truth of the allegations.
(4) The S.O.I.R.A. order
[5] No objection to the S.O.I.R.A. order was taken at trial. We see no basis for setting it aside on appeal.
Conclusion
[6] Accordingly, the appeal from conviction is dismissed, except that the appeal from the conviction on count number five is allowed, the conviction set aside and an acquittal entered on count number 5.
[7] The appeal from sentence is dismissed. An order in Form 52 will issue.
Signed: “M. Rosenberg J.A.”
“K. Feldman J.A.”
“J. C. MacPherson J.A.”