Court File and Parties
CITATION: R. v. Burke, 2015 ONSC 2759
COURT FILE NO.: CR-14-50000344-0000
DATE: 20150428
ONTARIO
SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE
BETWEEN:
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
– and –
DWAYNE BURKE
Michally Iny, for the Respondent
Daniel MacAdam, for the Applicant
HEARD:
February 25, 2015
B. P. O’marra, j.
RULING
[1] Bill Cosby has been a world famous entertainer for many years. In the last few years there have been public allegations by numerous women that they were sexually assaulted by Mr. Cosby. They claim that they were drugged unconscious and victimized.
[2] Mr. Burke is a reggae disc jockey. He faces a charge of sexual assault. The victim alleges she was drugged unconscious and victimized.
[3] Mr. Burke’s stage name is Bill Cosby.
[4] Counsel for Mr. Burke seeks an order that there be no mention of Mr. Burke’s stage name in the presence of the jury. He is concerned that there could be an odious association to the public allegations against the American entertainer Bill Cosby.
[5] The Crown submits it may be difficult to present the case without reference to the stage name.
[6] The allegations against the American entertainer Bill Cosby are notorious and similar to the allegations in this case. I direct that the Crown make their best efforts to prepare and present the case without reference to the name “Bill Cosby”. That effort will depend significantly on cooperation from the defence. This will obviously depend on the issues at trial.
[7] If the Crown reaches a point where it is unable to fully and fairly present its case I will reconsider this ruling.
Mr. Justice B. P. O’Marra
Released: April 28, 2015
CITATION: R. v. Burke, 2015 ONSC 2759
COURT FILE NO.: CR-14-50000344-0000
DATE: 20150428
ONTARIO
SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
– and –
DWAYNE BURKE
RULING
Mr. Justice B. P. O’Marra
Released: April 28, 2015