Ordonnance de renvoi à procès
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Principes généraux
The test for a preliminary inquiry is the same as a motion for non-suit or directed verdict.[1] The test is: "whether or not there is any evidence upon which a reasonable jury properly instructed could return a verdict of guilty."[2]
The analysis requires the judge to determine whether "there is admissible evidence which could, if it were believed, result in a conviction."[3]
The evidentiary standard is "very low". There must simply be "some or a scintilla of evidence on each essential element of the offence."[4]
If the "evidence is capable of belief, it is to be believed."[5]
The evidence cannot be considered "piecemeal" but rather the judge must examine the evidence as a whole.[6]
After hearing evidence and argument the court must make a ruling on whether to commit the accused to stand trial for the charges alleged.[7]
Where the evidence "consists solely of eyewitness testimony that would necessarily leave reasonable doubt in the mind of a reasonable juror, the trial judge must direct an acquittal upon a motion for directed verdict."[8]
- ↑
R c Arcuri, 2001 SCC 54 (CanLII), [2001] 2 SCR 828, par McLachlin J
United States of America v Shephard, 1976 CanLII 8 (SCC), [1977] 2 SCR 1067, (1976) 30 CCC (2d) 424, par Ritchie J, au p. 427
R c Mezzo, 1986 CanLII 16 (SCC), [1986] 1 SCR 802, par McIntyre J, at pp. 842‑43
- ↑
Arcuri, supra, au para 21
- ↑
USA v Shephard, supra, au p. 427
- ↑ see R c Hyra, 2013 MBCA 59 (CanLII), par Chartier JA, au para 10
- ↑ R c Eckstein, 2012 MBCA 96 (CanLII), [2012] MJ No 352 (CA), par Chartier JA, au para 18
- ↑
R c Muir, 2008 ONCA 608 (CanLII), [2008] OJ No 3418 (CA), par curiam
- ↑
R c Coke, [1996] OJ No 808(*pas de liens CanLII)
, par Hill J, at paras 8 to 11
- ↑ R c Hay, 2013 SCC 61 (CanLII), par Rothstein J
Inferences and Circumstantial Evidence
The test remains the same whether the evidence is circumstantial or direct. [1]
Where inferences may be drawn, it is not important if "more than one inference can be drawn...only the inferences that favour the Crown are to be considered."[2]
- ↑ see Mezzo v The Queen, 1986 CanLII 16 (SCC), [1986] 1 SCR 802
- ↑
R c Sazant, 2004 SCC 77 (CanLII), [2004] 3 SCR 635, par Major J, au para 18
see also R c Noddie, [2009] OJ No 855(*pas de liens CanLII) - trial judge weighs inferences, ruling overturned
Insufficient Evidence
Where the evidence is not sufficient to commit the matter to trial the Judge may discharge the accused of the charges alleged:
- Renvoi à procès ou libération
548 (1) Lorsque le juge de paix a recueilli tous les témoignages, il doit :
- a) renvoyer l’accusé pour qu’il subisse son procès, si à son avis la preuve à l’égard de l’infraction dont il est accusé ou de tout autre acte criminel qui découle de la même affaire est suffisante;
- b) libérer l’accusé, si à son avis la preuve à l’égard de l’infraction dont il est accusé ou de tout autre acte criminel qui découle de la même affaire n’est pas suffisante pour qu’il subisse un procès.
L.R. (1985), ch. C-46, art. 548L.R. (1985), ch. 27 (1er suppl.), art. 1011994, ch. 44, art. 56
- Order to stand trial or discharge
548 (1) When all the evidence has been taken by the justice, he shall
- (a) if in his opinion there is sufficient evidence to put the accused on trial for the offence charged or any other indictable offence in respect of the same transaction, order the accused to stand trial; or
- (b) discharge the accused, if in his opinion on the whole of the evidence no sufficient case is made out to put the accused on trial for the offence charged or any other indictable offence in respect of the same transaction.
[omis (2), (2.1) and (3)]
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 548; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 101; 1994, c. 44, s. 56.
Standard of Review
- Errors of jurisdiction
Where a judge incorrectly decides on the issue of committal there may be a loss of jurisdiction reviewable on a writ of certiorari.
A committal where there is an absence of evidence on an essential element of the charge is a jurisdictional error.[1]
An error in an evidentiary ruling on an element of the offence is not a jurisdictional error that is reviewable.[2]
- ↑ R c Skogman, 1984 CanLII 22 (SCC), [1984] 2 SCR 93, (1984) 13 CCC (3d) 161, au p. 170-171
- ↑
R c Beaven, 2012 SKCA 59 (CanLII), 290 CCC (3d) 312 ("erroneous evidentiary ruling under which the only evidence on an essential ingredient of an offence is admitted is not a jurisdictional error")
R c LeBlanc, 2009 NBCA 84 (CanLII), 250 CCC (3d) 29
Consent to Committal
At any time before the conclusion of the preliminary inquiry the accused may consent to committal.
- Renvoi au procès à tout stade d’une enquête, avec consentement
549 (1) Nonobstant toute autre disposition de la présente loi, le juge de paix peut, à tout stade d’une enquête préliminaire, avec le consentement du prévenu et du poursuivant, astreindre le prévenu à passer en jugement devant le tribunal ayant juridiction criminelle, sans recueillir ni enregistrer aucune preuve ou preuve supplémentaire.
- Portée limitée de l’enquête préliminaire
(1.1) Si le poursuivant et le prévenu se sont entendus pour limiter l’enquête préliminaire à des questions données au titre de l’article 536.5 [accord visant à limiter la portée de l'enquête préliminaire], le juge de paix peut astreindre le prévenu à passer en jugement devant le tribunal ayant juridiction criminelle, sans recueillir ni enregistrer aucune preuve supplémentaire relativement à toute question non visée par l’accord en cause.
- Procédures
(2) Lorsqu’un prévenu est astreint à passer en jugement aux termes du présent article, le juge de paix inscrit sur la dénonciation une mention du consentement du prévenu et du poursuivant, et le prévenu est par la suite traité à tous égards comme s’il était astreint à passer en jugement aux termes de l’article 548 .
L.R. (1985), ch. C-46, art. 549; L.R. (1985), ch. 27 (1er suppl.), art. 101; 2002, ch. 13, art. 30; 2019, ch. 25, art. 247
Ordering Committal
When the preliminary inquiry judge makes an order of committal he must transfer the record of the matter (the information, evidence, exhibits and statements made under s. 541, release documents, etc) to the superior court. That is stated in s. 551:
- Transmission of record by justice
551 If a justice orders an accused to stand trial, the justice shall immediately send to the clerk or other proper officer of the court by which the accused is to be tried, any information, evidence, exhibits, or statement of the accused taken down in writing in accordance with section 541 [audition des témoins et de l'accusé], any appearance notice, undertaking or release order given by or issued to the accused and any evidence taken before a coroner that is in the possession of the justice.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 551; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 102; 2019, c. 25, s. 249.
[annotation(s) ajoutée(s)]
This provision came into force on 18 décembre 2019.
- Fixing Dates
548
[omis (1) and (2)]
- Where accused ordered to stand trial
(2.1) A justice who orders that an accused is to stand trial has the power to fix the date for the trial or the date on which the accused must appear in the trial court to have that date fixed.
[omis (3)]
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 548; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 101; 1994, c. 44, s. 56.
New Charges
548
[omis (1)]
- Endorsing charge
(2) Where the justice orders the accused to stand trial for an indictable offence, other than or in addition to the one with which the accused was charged, the justice shall endorse on the information the charges on which he orders the accused to stand trial.
[omis (2.1) and (3)]
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 548; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 101; 1994, c. 44, s. 56.
Defects to Order
548
[omis (1), (2) and (2.1)]
- Defect not to affect validity
(3) The validity of an order to stand trial is not affected by any defect apparent on the face of the information in respect of which the preliminary inquiry is held or in respect of any charge on which the accused is ordered to stand trial unless, in the opinion of the court before which an objection to the information or charge is taken, the accused has been misled or prejudiced in his defence by reason of that defect.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 548; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 101; 1994, c. 44, s. 56.
Order Transferring Detained Property
490
[omis (1), (2), (3) and (3.1)]
- Lorsque le prévenu est renvoyé pour subir son procès
(4) Lorsqu’un prévenu a été renvoyé pour subir son procès, le juge de paix fait parvenir toute chose détenue en vertu des paragraphes (1) à (3) au greffier du tribunal devant lequel le prévenu a été renvoyé pour subir son procès, afin que ce greffier la détienne et qu’il en soit disposé selon les instructions du tribunal.
[omis (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (9.1), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17) and (18)]
L.R. (1985), ch. C-46, art. 490L.R. (1985), ch. 27 (1er suppl.), art. 731994, ch. 44, art. 38; 1997, ch. 18, art. 50; 2008, ch. 18, art. 14; 2017, ch. 7, art. 63(F)
[annotation(s) ajoutée(s)]