

Robbery, Abetting, Actus Reus, and R. v. Cowan - Booker Zhang
It is common sense that people who abet others in committing a crime may also be criminally liable. For example, your friend Tom comes to you for suggestions because Jerry ate his ice cream. You then hand a pistol over to Tom and tell him to shoot Jerry in the face. Tom follows your instruction and murders poor Jerry. As a result, you would not likely escape from the criminal liability of the murder. The legal principle is that a person can also become a party to a criminal o


The Boundaries of Self-Defence Laws - Megan Simpson
R v Ross[1] deals with the complexities of Canadian self-defence laws. The facts of the case showed that on April 27, 2019, Ross became involved in an altercation with the three complainants. According to the evidence, at some point during the altercation, the accused stabbed all three complainants. The accused was subsequently charged with three counts of aggravated assault. Testimony was presented which supported the fact that prior to the stabbing, the exchanges between th


The Suspension Period of s. 212(1)(j) of the Criminal Code: Can We Go Back in Time? - Shelly Neal
Suspension Period of s. 212(1)(j) of the Criminal Code[1] The rise of the feminist movement and increasing prevalence of social justice issues, due to widespread information through social media, has led to a growing change in attitude toward the protections for sex trade workers. Traditionally, these workers have acted as a cultural thermometer in demonstrating society’s feelings towards women and shame in expressions of sexuality. As the world continues to change, so do the


At Your Risk Too: Vehicle Owners’ Vicarious Liability - Booker Zhang
Imagine somewhere in Canada, a speeding Honda Civic recklessly ran a red light and seriously injured a pedestrian who was crossing the road. The police tried to pull the Civic over but soon gave up, considering the potential risk to other civilians on the road. They then found the Civic involved in the accident hiding in a bush after a few hours, but the driver had already abandoned the car and fled. The police made an inquiry to Tom, the registered owner of the Honda Civic.