View source for Infanticide (Offence)

{{LevelZero}}
{{HeaderOffences}}

{{OffenceBox
|OffenceTitle=Infanticide 
|OffencePage=Infanticide 
|Section=233, 237 or 238
|Act={{OBCCC}} 
|CrownElection={{OBIndictableElection}}  
|Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionAll}} 
|Bail={{OBBailVar}}
|IndictableDisp= {{OBDisp14orLifeVar}} 
|IndictableMin= {{OBMinNone}} 
|IndictableMax= {{OBTime|5 years}} or {{OBMaxLife}} }}

==Overview==
{{OverviewVIII|infanticide}}

; Pleadings
{{PleadingsHeader-N}}
{{PleadingsHybridList-N|s. 237 {{DescrSec|237}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No-Under14}} }} 
{{PleadingsIndictableList-N|s. 238 {{DescrSec|238}}| {{NA}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes-Life}} }} 
{{PleadingsEnd}}

{{PleadingsHybridElection-Under14|s. 237 {{DescrSec|237}} }}

{{PleadingsIndictElection-14Above|s. 238 {{DescrSec|238}}}}

; Release
{{ReleaseHeader}}
|s. 237 {{DescrSec|237}} || {{ReleaseProfile-Hybrid}} 
|-
|s. 238 {{DescrSec|238}} || {{ReleaseProfile-Indictable}} 
|-
{{ReleaseEnd}}

{{ReleaseOptions-Hybrid|s. 237 {{DescrSec|237}}}}

{{ReleaseOptions-Indictable|s. 238 {{DescrSec|238}}}}

:''<u>Reverse Onus Bail</u>''
{{ReverseOnusCirc}}

; Publication Ban
{{GeneralPubBan}}

; Offence Designations
{{DesignationHeader}}
|-
|s. 237 {{DescrSec|237}} || {{XMark}} <!--wire--> || {{OKMark}} <!--DO-->||{{OKMark}} <!--SPIO--> || {{XMark}} <!--consent--> || {{XMark}}
|-
|s. 238 {{DescrSec|238}} || {{XMark}} <!--wire--> || {{OKMark}} <!--DO-->||{{OKMark}} <!--SPIO--> || {{XMark}} <!--consent--> || {{OKMark}}
{{DesignationEnd}}
{{SPIODesignation|A|s. 238 {{DescrSec|238}}}}

{{SeeBelowForAncillary}}
{{reflist|2}}

==Offence Wording==
{{quotation2|
; Infanticide
233 A female person commits infanticide when by a wilful act or omission she causes the death of her newly-born child, if at the time of the act or omission she is not fully recovered from the effects of giving birth to the child and by reason thereof or of the effect of lactation consequent on the birth of the child her mind is then disturbed.

R.S., c. C-34, s. 216
|{{CCCSec2|233}} CCC]
|{{NoteUp|233}}
}}

{{quotation2|
; Punishment for infanticide
237 Every female person who commits infanticide is guilty of
:(a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years; or
:(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 237;
{{LegHistory10s|2019, c. 25}}, s. 79
|{{CCCSec2|237}} CCC]
|{{NoteUp|237}}
}}

{{quotation2|
; Killing unborn child in act of birth
238 (1) Every one who causes the death, in the act of birth, of any child that has not become a human being, in such a manner that, if the child were a human being, he would be guilty of murder, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life.
<br>
; Saving
(2) This section does not apply to a person who, by means that, in good faith, he considers necessary to preserve the life of the mother of a child, causes the death of that child.
<br>
R.S., c. C-34, s. 221.
|{{CCCSec2|238}} CCC]
|{{NoteUp|238|1|2}}
}}

===Draft Form of Charges===
{{seealso|Draft Form of Charges}}

{{DraftHeader}}
|-
| 
| 
|"{{ellipsis1}}, contrary to section XXX of the ''Criminal Code''.
{{DraftEnd}}

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

{{Proving|Infanticide|233 and 237}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit is a female
# {{box}} the culprit does a "wilful act or omssion";
# {{box}} the prohibited conduct "causes the death of her newly-born child";
# {{box}} at the time of the prohibited conduct "she is not fully recovered from the effects of giving birth to the child";
# {{box}} objective foreseeability of the risk of bodily harm to the child from the act or omission
# {{box}} the new-born is that of the accused

{{ElementRight}}

{{Proving|killing unborn child in act of birth|238}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit does anything;
# {{box}} the prohibited conduct is during "the act of child birth"; 
# {{box}} the prohibited conduct "causes the death ... of any child that has not become a human being";
# {{box}} the prohibited conduct was "in such a manner that, if the child were a human being" the culprit "would be guilty of murder"; and 
# {{box}} the prohibited conduct was not "by means that, in good faith, he considers to necessary to preserve the life of the mother of a child".

{{ElementEnd}}

==Interpretation of the Offence==
Infanticide is both a discrete indictable offence and also a partial defence to murder.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|LB|2fzbg|2011 ONCA 153 (CanLII)|270 CCC (3d) 208}}{{perONCA|Doherty JA}}{{atL|2fzbg|104}}<br>
</ref>

The ''mens rea'' requires act act or omission along with an "objective foreseeability of the risk of bodily harm to the child from that assault."<ref>
{{ibid1|LB}}{{atL|2fzbg|121}}<br>
</ref>

Infanticide is culpable homicide that is "significantly less culpable than murder and even manslaughter."<ref>
{{ibid1|LB}}{{atL|2fzbg|121}}</ref>

The usual burden on the Crown to disprove applicable defences is required for the offence of infanticide.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Effert|245g4|2009 ABQB 368 (CanLII)|244 CCC (3d) 510}}{{perABQB-H|Veit J}}
</ref>

The claim of infanticide as a defence requires the evidentiary foundation establishing on "air of reality" before there is any obligation on the crown to negate the defense of infanticide beyond a reasonable doubt and before it is put to the jury. <ref>
{{supra1|LB}}<br>
</ref>

A jury should be instructed to analyze the evidence in the following order:<ref>
{{supra1|LB}}<br>
</ref>
*Whether the accused caused a child's death;
*Whether, in causing the death, the accused committed culpable homicide under section 225.
*Whether the accused committed infanticide
*whether the accused committed murder

{{reflist|2}}
===When Child Becomes a Human===
{{seealso|Abortion (Offence)}}
{{quotation2|
; When child becomes human being
223 (1) A child becomes a human being within the meaning of this Act when it has completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother, whether or not
:(a) it has breathed;
:(b) it has an independent circulation; or
:(c) the navel string is severed.
; Killing child
(2) A person commits homicide when he causes injury to a child before or during its birth as a result of which the child dies after becoming a human being.
<br>
R.S., c. C-34, s. 206.
|{{CCCSec2|223}} CCC]
|{{NoteUp|223|1|2}}
}}

A foetus is not a "human being" or "person" within the meaning of the Criminal Code.<Ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Sullivan|1fslr|1991 CanLII 85 (SCC)|[1991] 1 SCR 489}}{{perSCC|Lamer CJ}}
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===Compellability===
The accused's spouse is a compellable witness for the Crown under s. 4(4) of the Evidence Act.

===Res Judicata===
{{quotation2|
662 <br>
{{removed|(1) and (2)}}
; Conviction for infanticide or manslaughter on charge of murder
(3) Subject to subsection (4) {{AnnSec6|662(4)}}, where a count charges murder and the evidence proves manslaughter or infanticide but does not prove murder, the jury may find the accused not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter or infanticide, but shall not on that count find the accused guilty of any other offence.
<br>
; Conviction for concealing body of child where murder or infanticide charged
(4) Where a count charges the murder of a child or infanticide and the evidence proves the commission of an offence under section 243 {{AnnSec2|243}} but does not prove murder or infanticide, the jury may find the accused not guilty of murder or infanticide, as the case may be, but guilty of an offence under section 243 {{AnnSec2|243}}.
<br>
{{removed|(5) and (6)}}
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. C-46}}, s. 662; 
R.S., {{LegHistory80s|1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.)}}, s. 134; 
{{LegHistory00s|2000, c. 2}}, s. 3; 
{{LegHistory00s|2008, c. 6}}, s. 38; 
{{LegHistory10s|2018, c. 21}}, s. 20.
{{Annotation}}
|{{CCCSec2|662}} CCC]
|{{NoteUp|662|3|4}}
}}

===Act or Omission===
{{quotation2|
; No acquittal unless act or omission not wilful
663 Where a female person is charged with infanticide and the evidence establishes that she caused the death of her child but does not establish that, at the time of the act or omission by which she caused the death of the child,
:(a) she was not fully recovered from the effects of giving birth to the child or from the effect of lactation consequent on the birth of the child, and
:(b) the balance of her mind was, at that time, disturbed by reason of the effect of giving birth to the child or of the effect of lactation consequent on the birth of the child,

she may be convicted unless the evidence establishes that the act or omission was not willful.
<br>
R.S., c. C-34, s. 590.
|{{CCCSec2|663}} CCC]
|{{NoteUp|663}}
}}

{{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 
{{VictimHeader}} <!-- Sections / Notice of Agree / Notice of Restitution / Notice of VIS --> 
|s. 237 {{DescrSec|237}} || || || 
|- 
|s. 238 {{DescrSec|238}} || || || 
|- 
{{VictimEnd}}

<!--
{{606Notice5Y|XX}}
{{606NoticeSPIO|XX}}
-->
{{RestitutionNotice}}

{{VISNotice}}

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

===Sentencing Profile===
; Maximum Penalties
{{SProfileMaxHeader}}
{{SProfileMax|s. 237 {{DescrSec|237}} | {{NA}} | {{Max5Years}}}}
{{SProfileMax|s. 238 {{DescrSec|238}}| {{NA}} | {{MaxLife}}}}
{{SProfileEnd}}
{{MaxPenaltyIndictment|s. 237 {{DescrSec|237}} and 238 {{DescrSec|238}}|'''{{Max5Years}}''' under s. 237 and '''{{MaxLife}}''' under s. 238}}

; Minimum Penalties
{{NoMinimumPenalties}}

; Available Dispositions
{{SProfileAvailHeader}}
|s. 237 {{DescrSec|237}}|| {{NA}} || {{SProfileAll}}
|-
|s. 238 {{DescrSec|238}} || {{NA}} || {{SProfileNoDischargeOrCSO}}
|-
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{AllDispositionsAvailable1|s. 237 {{DescrSec|237}}}}

{{NoCSOAvailable|C|s. 238 {{DescrSec|238}}}}

{{NoDischargeAvailable|s. 238 {{DescrSec|238}}}}

; Consecutive Sentences
{{NoConsecutive}}

===Principles===

===Ranges===
{{seealsoRanges|Infanticide}}

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

{{AOrder1| [[DNA Orders]]  |s. 233 or 238 |
* {{PrimDNA2|s. 233}}
* {{SecondDNA(AorB)|s. 238}} }}
 
{{AOrderEnd}}

; General Sentencing Orders
{{GeneralSentencingOrders}}

; General Forfeiture Orders
{{GeneralForfeitureOrders}}

==See Also==
; References
* [[Pre-Trial and Trial Motions Checklist]]

{{OffencesNavBar/Homicide}}