R. v. S.G.
The appeal was dismissed because the trial judge gave thoughtful reasons for excluding the evidence and the Crown did not demonstrate that the appeal raised a question of law alone that would justify appellate interference with the trial judge's discretionary factual and credibility findings.
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- 2014 ONCA 149
- Parties
- Appellant: Her Majesty the Queen; Respondent: S.G. (a young person)
- Court
- Court of Appeal for Ontario
- Jurisdiction
- Canada
- Judgment Date
- 27 February 2014
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Youth / Appeal From Acquittal to Court of Appeal
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Exclusion of Evidence, Standard of Appellate Review, Publication Ban, Youth Criminal Justice Act Compliance
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Her Majesty the Queen
Appellant
S.G. (a young person)
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Youth / Appeal From Acquittal to Court of Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the trial judge erred in excluding evidence
- 2 Whether the Crown's appeal raises a question of law alone allowing appellate review of the exclusion
- 3 Application and continuation of publication restrictions under the Criminal Code and the Youth Criminal Justice Act
Ratio Decidendi
The appeal was dismissed because the trial judge gave thoughtful reasons for excluding the evidence and the Crown did not demonstrate that the appeal raised a question of law alone that would justify appellate interference with the trial judge's discretionary factual and credibility findings.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed
Orders
- Appeal dismissed.
- An order restricting publication under Criminal Code ss.486.4 and 486.6 and restrictions under the Youth Criminal Justice Act shall continue.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
R. v. S.G. Collection Decisions of the Court of Appeal Date 2014-02-27 Neutral citation 2014 ONCA 149 Docket numbers C57160 Judges Laskin, John Ivan; Juriansz, Russell G.; Watt, David Subject Criminal Decision Content WARNING 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. 486.4(1), (2), (3) or (4) or 486.6(1) or (2) of the Criminal Code shall continue. These sections of the Criminal Code provide: 486.4(1) Subject to subsection (2), the presiding judge or justice may make an order directing that any information that could identify the complainant or a witness shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way, in proceedings in respect of (a) any of the following offences; (i) an offence under section 151, 152, 153, 153.1, 155, 159, 160, 162, 163.1, 170, 171, 172, 172.1, 173, 210, 211, 212, 213, 271, 272, 273, 279.01, 279.02, 279.03, 346 or 347, (ii) an offence under section 144 (rape), 145 (attempt to commit rape), 149 (indecent assault on female), 156 (indecent assault on male) or 245 (common assault) or subsection 246(1) (assault with intent) of the Criminal Code, chapter C-34 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, as it read immediately before January 4, 1983, or (iii) an offence under subsection 146(1) (sexual intercourse with a female under 14) or (2) (sexual intercourse with a female between 14 and 16) or section 151 (seduction of a female between 16 and 18), 153 (sexual intercourse with step-daughter), 155 (buggery or bestiality), 157 (gross indecency), 166 (parent or guardian procuring defilement) or 167 (householder permitting defilement) of the Criminal Code, chapter C-34 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, as it read immediately before January 1, 1988; or (b) two or more offences being dealt with in the same proceeding, at least one of which is an offence referred to in any of subparagraphs (a)(i) to (iii). (2) In proceedings in respect of the offences referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b), the presiding judge or justice shall (a) at the first reasonable opportunity, inform any witness under the age of eighteen years and the complainant of the right to make an application for the order; and (b) on application made by the complainant, the prosecutor or any such witness, make the order. (3) In proceedings in respect of an offence under section 163.1, a judge or justice shall make an order directing that any information that could identify a witness who is under the age of eighteen years, or any person who is the subject of a representation, written material or a recording that constitutes child pornography within the meaning of that section, shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way. (4) An order made under this section does not apply in respect of the disclosure of information in the course of the administration of justice when it is not the purpose of the disclosure to make the information known in the community. 2005, c. 32, s. 15; 2005, c. 43, s. 8(3)(b). 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. 2005, c. 32, s. 15. WARNING THIS IS AN APPEAL UNDER THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT AND IS SUBJECT TO: 110(1) Subject to this section, no person shall publish the name of a young person, or any other information related to a young person, if it would identify the young person as a young person dealt with under this Act. 111(1) Subject to this section, no person shall publish the name of a child or young person, or any other information related to a child or a young person, if it would identify the child or young person as having been a victim of, or as having appeared as a witness in connection with, an offence committed or alleged to have been committed by a young person. 138(1) Every person who contravenes subsection 110(1) (identity of offender not to be published), 111(1) (identity of victim or witness not to be published), 118(1) (no access to records unless authorized) or 128(3) (disposal of R.C.M.P. records) or section 129 (no subsequent disclosure) of this Act, or subsection 38(1) (identity not to be published), (1.12) (no subsequent disclosure), (1.14) (no subsequent disclosure by school) or (1.15) (information to be kept separate), 45(2) (destruction of records) or 46(1) (prohibition against disclosure) of the Young Offenders Act, chapter Y-1 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or (b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction. COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO CITATION: R. v. S.G., 2014 ONCA 149 DATE: 20140225 DOCKET: C57160 Laskin, Juriansz and Watt JJ.A. BETWEEN Her Majesty the Queen Appellant and S.G. (a young person) Respondent Michael Medeiros, for the appellant Alan D. Gold, for the respondent Heard: February 24, 2014 On appeal from the acquittal entered on May 8, 2013 by Justice W. James Blacklock of the Ontario Court of Justice, sitting without a jury. APPEAL BOOK ENDORSEMENT [1] The trial judge gave thoughtful reasons for excluding the evidence. We are not persuaded that the Crown’s appeal raises a question of law alone. [2] The appeal is dismissed.