View source for Aggravated Sexual Assault (Offence)

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{{OffenceBox |OffenceTitle=Aggravated Sexual Assault|OffencePage=Aggravated Sexual Assault|Section=273 |Act={{OBCCC}} |CrownElection={{OBIndictableElection}} |Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionAll}} |Bail={{OBBailJudge}}   |IndictableDisp= {{OBDisp14orMinVar}} |IndictableMin= {{OBTime|4, 5, or 7 years}} |IndictableMax= {{OBMaxLife}} }}

==Overview==
{{OverviewVIII|aggravated sexual assault}}

; Pleadings

{{PleadingsHeader}}
{{PleadingsIndictableList|s. 273 [aggravated sex assault] | {{NA}} | Yes }} 
{{PleadingsEnd}}

{{PleadingsIndictElection|s. 273}}

; Release
{{ReleaseHeader}}
|s. 273 || {{ReleaseProfileOnlyBail}} 
|-
{{ReleaseEnd}}

{{ReleaseOnlyBail|s. 273}}

Under s. 515(6)(a)(vii), offences charged under s. 273 have a [[Reverse Onus|reverse onus]] on bail where it has "been committed with a firearm".

:''Reverse Onus Bail''
{{ReverseOnusCirc}}

:''Fingeprints and Photos''
{{IDCriminalAct|s. 273}}

; Publication Bans
{{GeneralPubBan}}

{{486.4PublicationBan|s. 273}}

; Offence Designations
{{DesignationHeader}}
|-
|s. 273 || {{OKMark}} <!--wire--> || {{OKMark}} (Primary)<!--DO-->||{{OKMark}} <!--SPIO--> || {{XMark}} <!--consent-->
{{DesignationEnd}}

{{WiretapDesignation|s. 273}}

{{DOPrimaryDesignation|s. 273}}

{{SPIODesignation|B|s. 273}}

{{SeeBelowForAncillary}}

==Offence Wording==
{{quotation|
; Aggravated sexual assault
273. (1) Every one commits an aggravated sexual assault who, in committing a sexual assault, wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers the life of the complainant.
<br>
; Aggravated sexual assault
(2) Every person who commits an aggravated sexual assault is guilty of an indictable offence and liable
:(a) if a restricted firearm or prohibited firearm is used in the commission of the offence or if any firearm is used in the commission of the offence and the offence is committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organization, to imprisonment for life and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of
::(i) in the case of a first offence, five years, and
::(ii) in the case of a second or subsequent offence, seven years;
:(a.1) in any other case where a firearm is used in the commission of the offence, to imprisonment for life and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of four years; and
:(a.2) if the complainant is under the age of 16 years, to imprisonment for life and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of five years; and
:(b) in any other case, to imprisonment for life.

...<br>
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 273; 1995, c. 39, s. 146; 2008, c. 6, s. 29; 2009, c. 22, s. 11; 2012, c. 1, s. 27.
|[http://canlii.ca/t/7vf2#sec273 CCC]}}

==Proof of the Offence==
{{ElementHeader}}
{{ElementLeft}}

{{Proving|aggravated sexual assault|273}}
#Elements of [[Sexual Assault (Offence)|Sexual Assault]]:
## {{box}} the culprit [[Common Assault (Offence)|assaulted the victim]] (e.g. non-consentual touching)
## {{box}} the sexual nature of the contact;
## {{box}} the absence of consent;
## {{box}} the age of the complainant;
## {{box}} the age of the accused;
## {{box}} the relationship between the complainant and accused;
## {{box}} medical evidence (if any)
# Elements of [[Aggravated Assault (Offence)|Aggravated Assault]]:
## {{box}} the injuries amounted to the victim being:
### {{box}} wounded,
### {{box}} maimed,
### {{box}} disfigured, or
### {{box}} had life endangered
# Aggravating factors
## {{box}} a firearm was used in the commission of the offence
## {{box}} the complainant is under the age of 16 years

{{ElementEnd}}

==Interpretation of the Offence==
This offence is a [[List of Straight Indictable Offences|straight indictable]] offence. Under s.536(2), the accused can [[Election|elect the mode of trial]].

There must be an objective foresight of the risk of bodily harm.<ref>
''R v Williams'', [http://canlii.ca/t/50dc 2003 SCC 41] (CanLII), [2003] 2 SCR 134{{perSCC|Binnie J}} at para 22
</ref> There is no need for the intent to "maim, wound, or injure".<ref>
{{ibid1|Williams}}</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===HIV Infection===
{{seealso|Sexual Offences#HIV Infection Cases}}
The Crown must prove as an essential element to proving the offence in a case of HIV infection that the victim's consent to intercourse was vitiated by the accused's fraudulent concealment of his infection. Specifically, the crown should prove:<ref>
''R v Mabior'', [http://canlii.ca/t/ft1pq 2012 SCC 47] (CanLII){{perSCC| McLachlin CJ}}</ref>
# dishonest act to hide HIV status or failure to disclose HIV status;
# the victim's lack of awareness of the infection 
##knowledge that would have allowed her to refuse sex (ie. she would not have consented, if known) and 
##intercourse would be a significant risk of bodily harm
# the victim was not previously infected by HIV

A "significant risk of serious bodily harm" refers to the "realistic possibility of transmission" of HIV.<ref>
{{ibid1|Mabior}} at para 84, 91<br>
see also ''R v Wright'', [http://canlii.ca/t/29z37 2009 BCCA 514] (CanLII){{perBCCA|Tysoe JA}}</ref>
</ref> This possibility can be negated by the presence of a low viral load and condom use.<ref>
{{ibid1|Mabior}}{{at|104}}</ref> A "low viral load" is considered below 1,500 copies / mL.<ref>
{{ibid1|Mabior}}{{at|100}}</ref>

Where sex was unprotected, the size of the viral load is irrelevant.<ref>
''R v Felix'', [http://canlii.ca/t/fzckv 2013 ONCA 415] (CanLII){{perONCA|Cronk JA}} at para 48
</ref>

There is a positive duty on the accused to disclose their HIV status.<ref>
{{supra1|Cuerrier}}{{at|127}}</ref>
A failure to disclose then is the effective equivalent to fraud.<ref>
{{supra1|Mabior}}{{at|65}} ("Fraud is fraud, whether by blatant lies or deceit")<br>
</ref>

Consent of the partner must be "clear and unequivocal".<ref>
{{supra1|Cuerrier}}{{at|123}}<br>
''R v Ewanchuk'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1fqpm 1999 CanLII 711] (SCC), [1999] 1 SCR 330{{perSCC|Major J}} at para 46, 51<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}
===Evidence===
{{Section274to278.2}}

{{reflist|2}}

===Misc Definitions===
[[Criminal Code and Related Definitions|Section 2]] defines "complainant".

Section 265 defines "assault".<ref>
see [[Common Assault (Offence)]]
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Participation of Third Parties==
{{seealso|Role of the Victim and Third Parties|Testimonial Aids for Young, Disabled or Vulnerable Witnesses}}

; Testimonial Aids
{{3rdPTestimonyAids}}

; On Finding of Guilt
{{606NoticeSPIO|s. 273}}

{{RestitutionNotice}}

{{VISNotice}}

==Sentencing Principles and Ranges==
{{seealsoSentencing}}
{{seealsoSentencingSexual}}

; Maximum Penalties
{{SProfileMaxHeader‎}}

{{SProfileMax|s. 273 [aggravated sexual assault]|Straight Indictable|life in custody}}

{{SProfileEnd}}

; Minimum Penalties

{{SProfileMinHeader‎}}

{{SProfileMin|s. 273(2)(a)<br>with aggravating factor: prob/restr firearm<br> From July 2, 2008| Straight Indictable | 5 years custody | 7 years custody, if less 10 years bw convictions }}

{{SProfileMin|s. 273(2)(a.1)<br>with aggravating factor: firearm use | Straight Indictable | 4 years custody | Same }}

{{SProfileMin|s. 273(2)(a.2)<br>with aggravating factor: under 16<br> From Nov 6, 2012| Straight Indictable | 5 years custody | Same }}

{{SProfileMin|s. 273(2)(b)<br>with no aggravating factors | Straight Indictable | None | None }}

{{SProfileEnd}}

; Available Dispositions

{{SProfileAvailHeader}}
|s. 273 <br> no aggravating factors || any || {{SProfileNoDischargeOrCSO}} 
|-
|s. 273 <br> with any aggravating factors || any || {{SProfileOnlyFedJail}}
|-
{{SProfileEnd}}

; Consecutive Sentences
{{ConsecutiveSexOffence}}
===Principles===

; Young Victim
{{YVictimPrinciple}}

====Subsequent Offences====
{{quotation|
273<br>...<br>
; Subsequent offences
(3) In determining, for the purpose of paragraph (2)(a), whether a convicted person has committed a second or subsequent offence, if the person was earlier convicted of any of the following offences, that offence is to be considered as an earlier offence:
:(a) an offence under this section;
:(b) an offence under subsection 85(1) or (2) or section 244 or 244.2; or
:(c) an offence under section 220, 236, 239 or 272, subsection 279(1) or section 279.1, 344 or 346 if a firearm was used in the commission of the offence.<br>
However, an earlier offence shall not be taken into account if 10 years have elapsed between the day on which the person was convicted of the earlier offence and the day on which the person was convicted of the offence for which sentence is being imposed, not taking into account any time in custody.
<br>
; Sequence of convictions only
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the only question to be considered is the sequence of convictions and no consideration shall be given to the sequence of commission of offences or whether any offence occurred before or after any conviction.
<br>
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 273; 1995, c. 39, s. 146; 2008, c. 6, s. 29; 2009, c. 22, s. 11; 2012, c. 1, s. 27.
|[http://canlii.ca/t/7vf2#sec273 CCC]}}

===Ranges===
{{seealsoRanges|Sexual Assault}}
===Kienapple===
The offence of choking under s. 246(a) is not prohibited by a conviction of aggravated sexual assault.<ref>
''R v Hill'', [2010] OJ No 3956, [http://canlii.ca/t/2cmx3 2010 ONSC 5150] (CanLII){{perONSC|Bryant J}}<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Ancillary Sentencing Orders==
{{seealso|Ancillary Orders}}
	
; Offence-specific Orders
{{AOrderHeader}}


{{AOrder1| [[Weapons Prohibition Orders]] | s. 273 | 
* {{Section109|A|s. 273}} }}

{{AOrder1| [[DNA Orders]]  |s. 273 |
* {{PrimDNA1|s. 273}} }}

{{AOrder1| [[SOIRA Orders]] |s. 273(2)(a), (a.1) or (b) |
* {{SOIRA1|C|s. 273(2)(a), (a.1) or (b)}} }}
 
{{AOrder1| [[Section 161 Orders]] |s. 273 |
* {{Section161|s. 273}} }}

{{AOrder1| [[Delayed Parole Eligibility|Delayed Parole Order]] |s. 273 |
* {{ParoleDelayEligible|1|s. 273}} }}

{{AOrderEnd}}

; General Sentencing Orders
{{GeneralSentencingOrders}}

; General Forfeiture Orders
{{GeneralForfeitureOrders}}

==History==
{{seealso|List of Criminal Code Amendments}}

* [[History of Aggravated Sexual Assault]]

==See Also==

{{OffencesNavBar/Sexual}}

[[Category:Offences with Maximum Penalty of Life]]