R. v. Sutherland
The Court applied established precedent and deferred to the trial judge's factual findings on whether the first visit was an inspection, the weight of expert evidence, the credibility of evidence negating an officially induced error defence, and the due diligence defence; no arguable question of law was identified...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- 2011 ONCA 239
- Parties
- Respondent: Her Majesty the Queen; Appellant: William Sutherland
- Court
- Court of Appeal for Ontario
- Jurisdiction
- Canada
- Judgment Date
- 28 March 2011
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal / Appeal From Conviction to Court of Appeal
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed; trial judge's conviction, fines and remedial orders affirmed
- Legal Topics
- Statutory Interpretation of Fisheries Act S.49(1) and S.49.1, Expert Evidence Admissibility and Weight, Officially Induced Error Defence, Due Diligence Defence, Compliance Orders and Fines
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Her Majesty the Queen
Respondent
William Sutherland
Appellant
Procedural Posture
Criminal / Appeal From Conviction to Court of Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the first visit constituted an "inspection" under s.49(1) of the Fisheries Act
- 2 Admissibility and weight of expert evidence of Ms. Hallett
- 3 Whether the officially induced error defence applied
Ratio Decidendi
The Court applied established precedent and deferred to the trial judge's factual findings on whether the first visit was an inspection, the weight of expert evidence, the credibility of evidence negating an officially induced error defence, and the due diligence defence; no arguable question of law was identified and the trial judge's orders and fines were affirmed.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed; trial judge's conviction, fines and remedial orders affirmed
Orders
- Appellant to pay the amounts ordered ($5,000 and $5,000) within 30 days of March 25, 2011
- Appellant to submit the plan required by the trial judge's order no later than June 1, 2011
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
R. v. Sutherland Collection Decisions of the Court of Appeal Date 2011-03-28 Neutral citation 2011 ONCA 239 Docket numbers C52147 Judges Doherty, David H.; LaForme, Harry Smith; Epstein, Gloria Jean Subject Criminal Decision Content CITATION: R. v. Sutherland, 2011 ONCA 239 DATE: 20110325 DOCKET: C52147 COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO Doherty, LaForme and Epstein JJ.A. BETWEEN Her Majesty the Queen Respondent and William Sutherland Appellant William Sutherland, appearing in person B. Gluckman, for the respondent Heard: March 24, 2011 On appeal from the conviction entered by Justice E. Koke of the Superior Court of Justice dated April 27, 2010. APPEAL BOOK ENDORSEMENT [1] This is not a case for leave to appeal. [2] The first issue purports to raise the interpretation of s. 49(1) and s. 49.1 of the Fisheries Act. The Summary Conviction Appeal Court applied the established case law to the facts as found by the trial judge. There was no legal dispute. The dispute was over whether the first visit was an “inspection” per s. 49(1). That factual issue was decided against the appellant. [3] The second issue arises out of the expert evidence of Ms. Hallett. There can be no doubt about the legal admissibility of her evidence. This weight was for the trial judge. [4] The third issue, the officially induced error defence, again turned on a factual issue. The trial judge accepted Mr. McLeod’s evidence. That evidence effectively negated the defence. [5] The fourth issue, the due diligence defence, was addressed at trial and on appeal. The appellant has not convinced us that there is arguably an error in law arising out of the Summary Conviction Appeal Court’s treatment of that defence. [6] The appellant will pay the amounts ordered ($5,000 and $5,000) within 30 days of today. The applicant will submit the plan required by the trial judge’s order no later than June 1, 2011. The applicant will complete the work ordered by the trial judge no later than September 1, 2011.