Pamela Larmondin

The accused, Kadah Dematas, was charged with four counts related to offences committed during his arrest by police officers, including assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm.

The trial focused on the accused's knowledge that the complainants were police officers, whether his actions were a reflex, and if he acted in self-defence.

The court found the accused's testimony not credible, concluding that he intentionally assaulted both officers, knowing they were police, and was not acting in self-defence or reflexively.

Dematas was found guilty of assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm against Detective Constable Subramaniam, and assault causing bodily harm against Detective Constable Miller.

He was found not guilty of assault with a weapon against Detective Constable Miller.

The matter was adjourned for sentencing.

Vilroy Edwards pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in a firearm and careless use of a firearm.

The court considered aggravating factors, including the dangerous nature of the sawed-off semi-automatic rifle, the accused's intricate involvement in arranging the sale and advising on its use, and the discharge of the firearm in a residential area.

Mitigating factors included his first offender status, young age at the time of the offence, guilty plea, acceptance of responsibility, remorse, and successful compliance with strict bail conditions.

The court also considered his difficult upbringing and the principle of restraint for young Black offenders.

The Crown sought a four-year sentence, while the defence sought sixteen months.

The court imposed a total sentence of 912 days (approximately 2.5 years) for firearms trafficking and 18 months concurrent for careless use, after crediting 338 days for pre-sentence custody and strict bail conditions.

Ancillary orders included a 10-year weapons prohibition and a DNA sample order.

The accused was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking after police found 99 grams of cocaine hidden behind an intercom panel in a bedroom during a search warrant execution.

The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, arguing the bedroom belonged to the accused based on dated documents and large clothing found inside.

The accused testified he had moved to the basement months prior and that other individuals, including his brother, had access to the room.

The court applied the W.(D.) and Villaroman frameworks, finding the prosecution's circumstantial case weak and concluding the accused's evidence raised a reasonable doubt.

The accused was acquitted.

The offender pleaded guilty to firearm-related offences including unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm knowing its possession was unauthorized, possession of a loaded restricted firearm, and careless storage of ammunition.

The court imposed a 28-month custodial sentence (after credit for restrictive bail conditions) on the primary charge, with concurrent sentences on the remaining counts.

The court emphasized the principles of deterrence and denunciation while considering the offender's early guilty plea, first-time offender status, and excellent rehabilitation prospects.

Ancillary orders included a 10-year firearms prohibition, a DNA order, forfeiture orders, and a victim fine surcharge.

During a trial for drug importation, the Crown sought to admit statements made by the accused to police following his arrest.

The accused made an initial statement in a police cruiser and a subsequent video-recorded statement at the police station.

The court found the cruiser statement involuntary due to an incomplete record and inducements offered by the officer.

Applying the derived confessions rule, the court also excluded the subsequent video statement, finding it was causally, temporally, and contextually connected to the first tainted statement.

The accused were tried before a judge alone on charges arising from a large-scale cocaine importation scheme involving approximately 112 kilograms of cocaine shipped from Guyana to Canada in a sea container.

The Crown alleged conspiracy to import cocaine, importing cocaine, and possession for the purpose of trafficking, relying on surveillance, intercepted communications, controlled delivery evidence, and admissions.

The court found that two of the accused knowingly participated in a conspiracy to import cocaine and later exercised possession of the drugs for trafficking purposes, based largely on circumstantial evidence and intercepted communications demonstrating knowledge, control, and shared financial interest in the shipment.

However, the court found insufficient evidence that any accused actually committed the offence of importing under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act because their involvement occurred after the drugs entered Canada.

Two accused were acquitted entirely due to reasonable doubt regarding knowledge and participation.

The accused was sentenced following conviction after trial for possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking involving 111.85 kilograms of cocaine.

The court considered the extraordinary quantity, high purity, and multi‑million‑dollar value of the drugs, as well as the accused’s prior conviction for a similar offence involving multi‑kilogram quantities.

Although the court found the accused’s role was limited to that of a courier, the circumstances demonstrated a high level of organization, planning, and trusted involvement in a large trafficking enterprise.

Emphasis was placed on denunciation and both general and specific deterrence.

A penitentiary sentence of 15 years was imposed with credit for pre‑trial custody and restrictive bail conditions.