R. v. Rioux (G.R.),

R. v. Rioux (G.R.) (2007), 316 N.B.R.(2d) 122 (PC);

    316 R.N.-B.(2e) 122; 816 A.P.R. 122

MLB headnote and full text

Sommaire et texte intégral

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

.........................

Temp. Cite: [2007] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. JA.066

Renvoi temp.: [2007] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. JA.066

Her Majesty the Queen v. Guy Réjean Rioux

(No. 02380408; 2007 NBPC 1; 2007 NBCP 1)

Indexed As: R. v. Rioux (G.R.)

Répertorié: R. v. Rioux (G.R.)

New Brunswick Provincial Court

Hutchinson, P.C.J.

January 26, 2007.

Summary:

Résumé:

After an accident involving a vehicle driven by the accused, the accused was charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and driving with an excessive blood-alcohol content. The accused brought two motions for exclusion of evidence for alleged violations of s. 8 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The first motion sought exclusion of evidence obtained as a result of a warrantless search of the accused's vehicle. The second motion sought exclusion of vials of blood obtained under a search warrant.

The New Brunswick Provincial Court allowed the first motion. See paragraphs 25 to 35, 51 to 60. The second motion was dismissed. See paragraphs 37 to 51.

Civil Rights - Topic 1508

Property - General principles - Expectation of privacy - [See Civil Rights - Topic 8368 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 1646

Property - Search and seizure - Unreasonable search and seizure defined - [See Civil Rights - Topic 8368 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 1651

Property - Search and seizure - Warrantless search and seizure - Motor vehicles - [See Civil Rights - Topic 8368 ].

Civil Rights - Topic 8368

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Exclusion of evidence - A vehicle driven by the accused left the road and struck a house - The passenger in the vehicle was seriously injured - The police removed the vehicle from the scene and had it stored - Over the next three days, the police, without a warrant, collected evidence from the vehicle including bottles of alcoholic beverages, fingerprints and dried blood - The accused was charged with impaired driving offences - The New Brunswick Provincial Court excluded the evidence - The accused had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the vehicle and its contents - While the police had a limited right to search a vehicle without a warrant, such as "seizing" the vehicle to move it to a safer location, such a right could not extend to the searches conducted on and in the vehicle involved here after it was stored - A warrant was needed - A serious breach of the accused's rights under s. 8 of the Charter occurred - See paragraphs 25 to 35, 51 to 60.

Droits et libertés - Cote 1508

Biens - Principes généraux - Attente en matière de respect de la vie privée - [Voir Civil Rights - Topic 1508 ].

Droits et libertés - Cote 1646

Biens - Fouille, perquisition et saisie déraisonnables - Définition - [Voir Civil Rights - Topic 1646 ].

Droits et libertés - Cote 1651

Biens - Fouille, perquisition et saisie - Sans mandat - Véhicules à moteur - [Voir Civil Rights - Topic 1651 ].

Droits et libertés - Cote 8368

Charte canadienne des droits et libertés - Négation des droits - Recours - Exclusion de la preuve - [Voir Civil Rights - Topic 8368 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Buhay (M.A.), 2003 1 S.C.R. 631; 305 N.R. 158; 177 Man.R.(2d) 72; 304 W.A.C. 72, consd. [para. 23].

R. v. Dyment, [1988] 2 S.C.R. 417; 89 N.R. 249; 73 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 13; 229 A.P.R. 13; 45 C.C.C.(3d) 244, consd. [para. 24].

R. v. Wise, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 527; 133 N.R. 161; 51 O.A.C. 351; 11 C.R.(4th) 253, refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Belnavis (A.) and Lawrence (C.), [1997] 3 S.C.R. 341; 216 N.R. 161; 103 O.A.C. 81; 118 C.C.C.(3d) 405, refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Caslake (T.L.), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 51; 221 N.R. 281; 123 Man.R.(2d) 208; 159 W.A.C. 208; 121 C.C.C.(3d) 97, refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Nicolosi (J.) (1998), 110 O.A.C. 189; 40 O.R.(3d) 417 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 29].

Southam Inc. v. Hunter, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 145; 55 N.R. 241; 55 A.R. 291; 14 C.C.C.(3d) 97, refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Bowler (R.L.) (1998), 80 O.T.C. 181 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Mitchell (C.) (2005), 295 N.B.R.(2d) 251; 766 A.P.R. 251 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Garofoli et al., [1990] 2 S.C.R. 1421; 116 N.R. 241; 43 O.A.C. 1; 36 Q.A.C. 161, consd. [para. 42].

R. v. Araujo (A.), [2000] 2 S.C.R. 992; 262 N.R. 346; 143 B.C.A.C. 257; 235 W.A.C. 257, consd. [para. 43].

R. v. Allain (S.) (1998), 205 N.B.R.(2d) 201; 523 A.P.R. 201 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Shalala (R.H.) (2000), 224 N.B.R.(2d) 118; 574 A.P.R. 118 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Morris, [1998] N.S.J. No. 492 (C.A.), consd. [para. 46].

R. v. Mann (P.H.), [2004] 3 S.C.R. 59; 324 N.R. 215; 187 Man.R.(2d) 1, refd to. [para. 57].

R. v. Grant (D.), [1993] 3 S.C.R. 223; 159 N.R. 161; 35 B.C.A.C. 1; 57 W.A.C. 1; 84 C.C.C.(3d) 173, refd to. [para. 58].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 8, sect. 24(2) [para. 21].

Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17, sect. 15(1)(d), sect. 15(1)(g), sect. 247(2)(b) [para. 28].

Counsel:

Avocats:

René Dumaresq, for the Crown;

Wendell Maxwell, Q.C., and James Matheson, for the defence.

This voir dire was heard on October 16 and 17, 2006, by Hutchinson, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court.

Hutchinson, P.C.J., delivered the following decision on January 26, 2007.