View source for Overcoming Resistance (Offence)

[[fr:Fait de vaincre la résistance (infraction)]]
{{Currency2|January|2014}}
{{LevelZero}}{{HeaderOffences}}

{{OffenceBox
|OffenceTitle=Overcoming Resistance 
|OffencePage=Overcoming Resistance 
|Section=246 |Act={{OBCCC}} 
|CrownElection={{OBIndictableElection}} 
|Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionAll-14Above}} 
|Bail={{OBBailJudge}} 
|IndictableDisp={{OBDisp14orLife}} 
|IndictableMin={{OBMinNone}} 
|IndictableMax={{OBMaxLife}} }}

==Overview==
{{OverviewVIII|overcoming resistance}}

; Pleadings
{{PleadingsHeader-N}}
{{PleadingsIndictableList-N|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}} | {{NA}} | {{Yes}}| {{Yes-Life}}  }}
{{PleadingsEnd}}

{{PleadingsIndictElection-14Above|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}} }}

; Release

{{ReleaseHeader}}
|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}} || {{ReleaseProfile-Indictable}}  
|-
{{ReleaseEnd}}
{{ReleaseOptions-Indictable|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}}}}

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

; Publication Bans
{{GeneralPubBan}}

; Offence Designations
{{DesignationHeader}}
|-
|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}}||  <!--wire--> || <!--DO-->||<!--SPIO--> || <!--consent--> || {{OKMark}} <!--IRPA -->
{{DesignationEnd}}
{{SPIODesignation|A|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}}}}

{{SeeBelowForAncillary}}

{{reflist|2}}

==Offence Wording==
{{quotation2|
; Overcoming resistance to commission of offence
246 Every one who, with intent to enable or assist himself or another person to commit an indictable offence,
:(a) attempts, by any means, to choke, suffocate or strangle another person, or by any means calculated to choke, suffocate or strangle, attempts to render another person insensible, unconscious or incapable of resistance, or
:(b) administers or causes to be administered to any person, or attempts to administer to any person, or causes or attempts to cause any person to take a stupefying or overpowering drug, matter or thing,<br>

is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life.
<br>
R.S., c. C-34, s. 230; 
{{LegHistory70s|1972, c. 13}}, s. 70.
|{{CCCSec2|246}}
|{{NoteUp|246}}
}}

===Draft Form of Charges===
{{seealso|Draft Form of Charges}}
{{DraftHeader}}
|-
| 
| 
|"{{ellipsis1}}, {{contrary|XXX}}.
{{DraftEnd}}

==Proof of the Offence==
{{ElementHeader}}
{{ElementLeft}}
{{Proving|overcoming resistance in the commission of the offence|246(a)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit either:
## {{box}} attempts "to choke, suffocate or strangle another person" or
## {{box}} does anything "calculated to choke, suffocate or strangle"
# {{box}} the culprit "attempts to render another person insensible, unconscious or incapable of resistance";
# {{box}} the culprit did the prohibited act with the intent "to enable or assist himself or another person to commit an indictable offence".
{{ElementRight}}
{{Proving|administering a stupefying substance|246(b)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit either:
## {{box}} administers a substance;
## {{box}} causes to be administered a substance, 
## {{box}} attempts to administer a substance, or 
## {{box}} causes or attempts to cause any person to take a substance; 
# {{box}} the substance is a "stupefying or overpowering drug, matter or thing" and 
# {{box}} the culprit did the prohibited act with the intent "to enable or assist himself or another person to commit an indictable offence".

{{ElementEnd}}

==Interpretation of the Offence==

==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. 246 {{DescrSec|246}} || || ||
|-
{{VictimEnd}}
{{606NoticeSPIO|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}}}}

{{RestitutionNotice}}

{{VISNotice}}

==Sentencing Principles and Ranges==
{{seealsoSentencing}}
; Maximum Penalties
{{SProfileMaxHeader}}
{{SProfileMax|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}} | {{NA}} | {{MaxLife}} }} 
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{MaxPenaltyIndictment|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}} |life}}

; Minimum Penalties
{{NoMinimumPenalties}}

; Available Dispositions
{{SProfileAvailHeader}}
|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}} || {{NA}} || {{SProfileNoDischargeOrCSO}}
|-
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{NoDischargeAvailable|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}}}}

{{NoCSOAvailable|C|s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}}}}

; Consecutive Sentences
{{NoConsecutive}}

===Principles===
Choking, suffocating or strangling another person is inherently dangerous and is easily capable of causing death or brain injury. The difference between mere unconsciousness and permanent damage is slim.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Lemmon|fqstn|2012 ABCA 103 (CanLII)|285 CCC (3d) 419}}{{perABCA|Martin JA}} (3:0){{atsL|fqstn|28| to 29}}<br>
R v Horvath (1982), 1982 CanLII 3838 (ON CA), 2 CCC (3d) 196 (Ont CA)
</ref>

Choking is often serious and can be life-threatening. Where the victim has been choked to the point of unconsciousness or bodily harm it is not a mere detail to an underlying offence. It should have an aggravating effect on sentence. The court should consider would be whether to impose:<ref>
{{ibid1|Lemmon}} </ref>
# a consecutive sentence for the choking offence under s. 245
# a concurrent sentence that is greater than the sentence underlying the choking
# a sentence for the underlying offence that is greater than it would otherwise be.

{{Reflist|2}}

===Ranges===
{{seealsoRanges|Overcoming Resistance}}

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

{{AOrder1| [[DNA Orders]]  |s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}} |
* {{PrimDNA1|s. 246}} }}

{{AOrder1| [[SOIRA Orders]]  |s. 246(b) |
* {{SOIRA2|C|s. 246(b)}} }}

{{AOrder1| [[Delayed Parole Eligibility|Delayed Parole Order]] | s. 246 {{DescrSec|246}} |
* {{ParoleDelayEligible|1|s. 246}} }}

{{AOrderEnd}}

; General Sentencing Orders
{{GeneralSentencingOrders}}

; General Forfeiture Orders
{{GeneralForfeitureOrders}}

==Record Suspensions and Pardons== 
{{RecordSuspension|s. 246 {{AnnSec2|246}} }}

==History==


===1985===
{{quotation1|
;Disabling or administering drugs with intent to commit an indictable offence
296 Every one is guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment for life and to be whipped, who, with intent thereby to enable himself or any other person to commit, or with intent thereby to assist any other person in committing any indictable offence,
:(a) by any means whatsoever attempts to choke, suffocate or strangle any other person, or by any means calculated to choke, suffocate or strangle, attempts to render any other person insensible, unconscious or incapable of resistance; or
:(b) unlawfully applies or administers to, or causes to be taken by, or attempts to apply or administer to, or attempts or causes to be administered to or taken by, any person, any chloroform, laudanum or other stupefying or overpowering drug, matter or thing.

|}}

===Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c. C-46===
Section 230 was renumbered to s. 246. One word "is" was removed.

===Criminal Law Amendment Act, SC 1972, c. 13===
Section 230 had the phrase "and to be whipped" removed.

===Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34===
Section 218 renumbered as 230 unchanged.

===Criminal Code, 1953-54, c. 51===
{{quotation1|
; Overcoming resistance to commission of offence
218 Every one who, with intent to enable or assist himself or another person to commit an indictable offence,
(a) attempts, by any means, to choke, suffocate or strangle another person, or by any means calculated to choke, suffocate or strangle, attempts to render another person insensible, unconscious or incapable of resistance, or
(b) administers, or causes to be administered to any person, or attempts to administer to any person, or causes or attempts to cause any person to take a stupefying or overpowering drug, matter or thing, is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for life and to be whipped.
|
}}

===Criminal Code, RSC 1927, c. 36===
Section 276 was unchanged.

===Criminal Code, RSC 1906, c. 146===
Section 244 was renumbered as 276 unchanged.

===Criminal Code, 1892, c. 29===
{{quotation1|
; Disabling or administering drugs with intent to commit an indictable offence
244 Every one is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life and to be whipped, who with intent thereby to enable himself or any other person to commit, or with intent thereby to assist any other person in committing any indictable offence—
:(a) by any means whatsoever, attempts to choke, suffocate or strangle any other person, or by any means calculated to choke, suffocate or strangle, attempts to render any other person insensible, unconscious or incapable of resistance; or
:(b) unlawfully applies or administers to, or causes to be taken by, or attempts to apply or administer to, or attempts or causes to be administered to or taken by, any person, any chloroform, laudanum or other superfying or overpowering drug matter or thing.
|
}}

==See Also==
; Related Offences
* [[Administering a Noxious Substance (Offence)]]

; References
* [[Pre-Trial and Trial Motions Checklist]]