The appellant uttered threats to his social worker regarding a former social worker to whom his file was being transferred, stating he would blow up her office, strangle her, and kill her.
He was convicted of uttering threats under s. 264.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
On appeal, the appellant argued the mens rea required an intent to intimidate or instill fear, while the Crown argued it only required an intent that the threat be taken seriously.
The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal, holding that the mens rea is satisfied if the words were meant to intimidate or to be taken seriously, viewed objectively in the context they were spoken.
