Recent Cases

This youth client was charged with separate counts of discharging bear spray in the assault of three other youths.  The matter was set for trial, and the complainants were cross-examined.  Based on inconsistencies in the complainants' testimonies under cross-examination and my submissions about their limited opportunity to observe the culprit in poor lighting and during the chaos of a sudden assault, my client was found Not Guilty on all three counts. 

My client and his wife were charged by undercover units in a dial-a-dope fentanyl operation.  Although there were no mitigating circumstances, I convinced the Judge to impose a very brief five month Conditional Sentence Order with limited conditions and the charges against his wife were dropped.  There was no precedent for such a lenient sentence on this offence.  

When this matter went to trial, facing charges of Assault -- Assault by Choking, and Uttering Threats -- Crown attempted to rely on two independent witnesses in addition to the complainant.  The complainant refused to participate, but Crown proceeded with their case anyway.  One witness attended and said he had no testimony to offer, and was excused.  Under cross-examination, I showed that the remaining witness was providing dishonest testimony and trapped him in multiple lies.  I also managed to recall the complainant who agreed to give testimony further showing that the Crown's remaining witness was being dishonest.  As a result, the Judge decided that there was reasonable doubt and found my client Not Guilty on all charges.  

Charges of Assault with a Weapon were brought against a client of mine as the result of a confrontation in a common area of their apartment.  My client was alleged to have attacked three other residents of the building, but maintained that she was defending herself.  The testimonies of the complainants at trial were inconsistent and showed a significant power disparity between the parties.  This may have given self defence an air of reality, though not likely enough to avoid conviction on all counts.  The Judge gave Crown a direction to offer my client a Peace Bond under s.810 of the Criminal Code of Canada, which is not an admission of guilt, and we accepted.  This avoided the possibility of immigration consequences for my client that would have removed her from the country. 

My client was a passenger in someone else's vehicle where ammunition and a prohibited firearm was present.  As my client was under conditions not to be around firearms, charges were laid for possession of the prohibited firearm and breach of conditions.  At trial, the Crown relied on the driver and owner of the vehicle as their main witness, who was difficult and uncooperative during the trial process, and my client's charges were dismissed.

I was assigned to research the Crown's expert witness for the purpose of cross-examination at trial.  The Judge favoured our witness and found our client Not Guilty, which was only the second time in Canadian legal history that the "sexsomnia" defence was successfully used. 

These charges were brought ten years after the allegations were said to have occurred, when my client and the complainant were both youths.  At trial, the complainant maintained a consistent story and was believed by the Judge.  I focused my cross-examination and closing submissions on  inconsistencies between the witnesses' testimonies and argued that the timeline described by the complainant could not have occurred.  The Judge was left with reasonable doubt as to the accuracy of the complainant's testimony, and my client was found Not Guilty on all charges.  

My client was charged with assaulting a loss prevention officer who was trying to apprehend my client for allegedly shoplifting.  The LPO failed to collect proper evidence or respond to Police's requests for CCTV footage, and gave inconsistent evidence during my cross-examination.  The Judge found the LPO not to be credible and decided my client was Not Guilty of all charges.  

I was assigned to assist a cab driver who had driven an alleged drug trafficker to the location of a transaction and was charged for the offence along with the passenger.  I helped persuade the Crown that our client had no knowledge of the passenger's illicit activity, and the charges against him were dropped.  

My client was charged by her partner with an allegation of assault with a weapon.  The Crown lacked any evidence other than the complainant's testimony.  I pushed for an early trial date and, when the complainant could not be compelled to attend to provide his testimony, the charges against my client were dismissed.