R. v. Yusufi

R. v. Yusufi Collection Decisions of the Court of Appeal Date 2010-03-04 Neutral citation 2010 ONCA 158 Docket numbers C50186 Judges Doherty, David H.; Laskin, John Ivan; Sharpe, Robert J. 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or justice may make an order directing that any information that could identify the complainant or a witness shall not be published in any document or broadcast or transmitted in any way, in proceedings in respect of (a) any of the following offences: (i) an offence under section 151, 152,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. CITATION: R. v. Yusufi, 2010 ONCA 158 DATE: 20100303 DOCKET: C50186 COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO Doherty, Laskin and Sharpe JJ.A. BETWEEN Her Majesty the Queen Respondent and Zialuddin Yusufi Appellant Michael Dineen, for the appellant Holly Loubert, for the respondent Heard: March 2, 2010 On appeal from the conviction entered by Justice B.A. Glass of the Superior Court of Justice dated June 21, 2007 and the sentence imposed on August 17, 2007. APPEAL BOOK ENDORSEMENT [1] The trial judge gave careful reasons for judgment. He did not use the discreditable conduct evidence in the “rape” charge. It is agreed that the evidence was properly considered on the other two charges. [2] There is nothing in the reasons to suggest that the trial judge somehow misused the appellant’s testimony on the one count to find against the appellant’s credibility on the others. The fact is that there was ample reason to disbelieve the appellant on all counts. Given the manner in which the trial judge ultimately analyzed and decided the case, the severance ruling could not have had any impact on the fairness of the trial. [3] The cross-examination by Crown counsel was probably not improper and certainly did not rise to the level that would justify appellate intervention. [4] The sentence was fit having regard to the serious nature of the offences, the vulnerability of the victims and the appellant’s prior record for sexual assault. [5] The appeal is dismissed.