Kidnapping and Unlawful Confinement (Offence): Difference between revisions

{{HeaderOffences}}

 

{{OffenceBox |OffenceTitle=Kidnapping and Unlawful Confinement |OffencePage=Kidnapping and Unlawful Confinement |Section=279(1.1), (2)|Act={{OBCCC}} |CrownElection={{OBIndictableElection}} (279(1.1)), {{OBHybridElection}} (279(2))|Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionAll}} |Bail={{OBBailVar}} |SummaryDisp= {{OBDispAll}} |SummaryMin= {{OBMinNone}} |SummaryMax= {{OBTime|18 months}} | IndictableDisp=  <!--{{OBDispMinVar}}--> {{OBDisp14orMinVar}} |IndictableMin= {{OBTime|4, 5, 7 years}} (kipnap w/ firearm) |IndictableMax= {{OBTime|10 years}} (confine)<br> {{OBMaxLife}} (kidnap) }}

{{PleadingsHeader}}

{{PleadingsIndictableList| s. 279(1.1) [kidnapping] | {{NA}} | Yes}}

{{PleadingsHybridList|s. 279(2) [confinement] | Yes | {{YesIfCrown}} }}

{{PleadingsIndictElection|s. 279(1.1) [kidnapping]}}

{{PleadingsHybridElection|s. 279(2) [confinement]}}

|s. 279(1.1) || {{ReleaseProfileOnlyBail}}  

|s. 279(2) || {{ReleaseProfileAll}}  

{{ReleaseOnlyBail|s. 279(1.1)}}

{{ReleaseAllOptions|s. 279(2)}}

:''Fingeprints and Photos''

|s. xxx || {{OKMark}} <!--wire--> || {{OKMark}} <!--DO-->||{{OKMark}} <!--SPIO--> || {{XMark}} <!--consent-->

{{DOPrimaryDesignation|s. 279(1.1)}}

{{DODesignation|s. 279(2)}}

{{quotation|

279. (1) Every person commits an offence who kidnaps a person with intent

(1.1) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable

:(a.2) if the person referred to in paragraph (1)(a), (b) or (c) is under 16 years of age, to imprisonment for life and, unless the person who commits the offence is a parent, guardian or person having the lawful care or charge of the person referred to in that paragraph, to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of five years; and

...[(1.2), (1.21), and (1.3) regarding subsequent offences]...

'''Forcible confinement'''<br>

:(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding eighteen months.<br>

...<br>

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 279; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 39; 1995, c. 39, s. 147; 1997, c. 18, s. 14; 2008, c. 6, s. 30; 2009, c. 22, s. 12; 2013, c. 32, s. 1.

|[http://canlii.ca/t/7vf2#sec279 CCC]

# the culprit moved or took a person from one place to another<ref>e.g. see ''R v Oakley'', (1977) 36 CCC (2d) 436 (ABCA), [http://canlii.ca/t/fp3fp 1977 ALTASCAD 118] (CanLII){{perABCA|Morrow JA}}</ref>

# the victim did not consent

# the culprit had no lawful authority to do so

##confine or imprison the victim

##cause the person to be sent in or out of the country

## holding the person for ransom or service

279. (1) Every person commits an offence who kidnaps a person with intent

# the culprit "confines, imprisons or forcibly seizes" another person

# the other person did not consent to the confinement

# the culprit had no "lawful authority" to confine the complainant

# the culprit intended to confine the victim

# the culprit used force or threat of force

'''Kidnapping vs Confinement'''<br>

For the offence of kidnapping, the crown must prove that the accused took the victim from one place to another without consent. <ref>''R v Oakley'', (1977), [http://canlii.ca/t/fp3fp 1977 ALTASCAD 118] (CanLII), 4 AR 103, 36 CCC (2d) 436 (Alta SCAD){{perABCA|Morrow JA}}</ref> This is the key distinction between confinement and kidnapping. Confinement is the deprivation of a person's liberty to move, while kidnapping is the moving of a person. All kidnappings are confinements but not all confinements are kidnapping.<ref>

see ''R v Tremblay'' (1997), [http://canlii.ca/t/1nf70 1997 CanLII 10526] (QC CA), 117 CCC (3d) 86 (QCCA){{TheCourt}}<br>

''R v Niedermier'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1jk9g 2005 BCCA 15] (CanLII){{TheCourt}}<br>

Kidnapping is considered "an aggravated form of unlawful confinement, which continues until the victim is freed".<ref>

''R v Vu'', [http://canlii.ca/t/fs54k 2012 SCC 40] (CanLII){{perSCC|Moldaver JA}} at para 40<br>

A conviction for both kidnapping and unlawful confinement should subject to the Kienapple principle and one of the two offences should be stayed.<ref>

''R v Dhillon'', [http://canlii.ca/t/gxj7c 2017 ONSC 900] (CanLII){{perONSC|Sproat J}} at para 104<br>

The essence of the offence is "forcible deprivation of another person's physical liberty or freedom".<ref>

''R v Fagg'', [http://canlii.ca/t/gl88d 2014 BCSC 2632] (CanLII){{perBCSC|Saunders J}} at para 38<br>

It's guiding principle is "illegal domination of one person by another".<ref>

''R v Luxton'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1fssl 1990 CanLII 83] (SCC), [1990] 2 SCR 711{{perSCC|Lamer CJ}}<br>

'''Meaning of Confinement'''<br>

Unlawful confinement is made out by "physical restraint" that is "contrary to the wishes of the person restrained"  resulting in a deprivation of "liberty to move from one place to another".<ref>

''R v Gratton'' (1985), 18 CCC (3d) 462 (ONCA), [http://canlii.ca/t/gbprd 1985 CanLII 3549] (ON CA){{perONCA|Cory JA}} at para 29<br>

{{supra1|Fagg}} at para 38<br>

"Confinement" means "the state or condition of being confined, restriction or limitation".<ref>

''R v EB'', [2006] OJ 1864{{NOCANLII}}{{perONSC|Watt J}} at para 115<br>

It is to "keep that person in a place, within or to limits, or a defined area, to restrict or secure that person". <ref>

{{ibid1|EB}} at para 115<br>

{{ibid1|EB}} at para 115 and 116

There is no requirement for "physical application of bindings".<ref>

{{supra1|Gratton}} at para 29

</ref> The restraint can be by "psychological means, such as threats, intimidation or the imposition of fear".<ref>

''R v Kematch'', [http://canlii.ca/t/28cmh 2010 MBCA 18] (CanLII){{perMBCA|Monnin JA}}{{at|55}}<br>

{{supra1|Fagg}} at para 41<br>

There must either be "actual physical restraint" or "coercive restraint".<ref>

''R v Pritchard'', [http://canlii.ca/t/21b1w 2008 SCC 59] (CanLII){{perSCC|Binne J}}

The victim must be "fully restrained" so that they cannot "move about from place to place".<ref>

{{ibid1|EB}} at para 119<br>

The duration of confinement must be "significant".<ref>

{{supra1|Gratton}} at para 29<br>

{{supra1|EB}} at para 119<br>

{{supra1|EB}} at para 119<br>

''R v Metcalfe'', [http://canlii.ca/t/23m1c 1983 CanLII 248] (BC CA), (1983), 10 CCC (3d) 114{{perBCCA|Nemetz CJ}} at paras 9, 12, 11<br>  

''R v Johnson'', (1984), 65 NSR (2d) 54 (NSSCAD){{NOCANLII}}, leave denied [1985] SCCA No. 263<br>  

''R v Brown'' (1972), 8 CCC (2d) 13 (Ont CA), [http://canlii.ca/t/htzzt 1972 CanLII 1353] (ON CA){{perONCA|MacKay JA}}</ref>

'''''Actus Reus'''''<br>

R v B(SJ), [http://canlii.ca/t/5k1v 2002 ABCA 143] (CanLII), 312 AR 313{{perABCA|Berger JA}}</ref>

''R v Pritchard'', [http://canlii.ca/t/21b1w 2008 SCC 59] (CanLII){{perSCC|Binnie J}} (7:0) at para 24 ("The authorities establish that if for any significant period of time [the victim] was coercively restrained or directed contrary to her wishes, so that she could not move about according to her own inclination and desire, there was unlawful confinement")</ref>

A child confined by a lawful guardian can be considered lawful confinement.<ref>R v Whalen 2001 NWTSC 63{{NOCANLII}}</ref>

An arrest by a peace officer or private citizen can be unlawful confinement. For example, where an officer takes a lawfully arrested man out to a remote area to abandon him in freezing weather makes out the offence.<ref>''R v Munson'', [http://canlii.ca/t/5cj9 2003 SKCA 28] (CanLII){{TheCourt}}</ref>

Confinement refers to the "physical restraint, contrary to the wishes of the person restrained, ...thereby depriving the person of his or her liberty to move from one place to another". <ref>

''R v Neidermier'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1jk9g 2005 BCCA 15] (CanLII){{TheCourt}}</ref>

'''''Mens Rea'''''<br>

Confinement is a general intent offence.<ref>R v B(SJ) [http://canlii.ca/t/5k1v 2002 ABCA 143] (CanLII){{perABCA|Berger JA}}</ref>

R v B(SJ), [http://canlii.ca/t/5k1v 2002 ABCA 143] (CanLII){{perABCA|Berger JA}}{{at|41}}

''R v Vu'', [http://canlii.ca/t/fs54k 2012 SCC 40] (CanLII){{perSCC|Moldaver J}}

'''On Finding of Guilt'''<br>

{{606NoticeSPIO|s. 279(1.1) or (2)}}

{{SProfileMax|s. 279(1.1) [kidnapping]| {{NA}} |life in custody }}

{{SProfileMax|s. 279(2) [confinement]| Summary Election | 18 months custody }}

{{SProfileMax|s. 279(2) | Indictable Election | 10 years custody}}

{{quotation|

279.<br>...[(1), (1.1)]...<br>

'''Subsequent offences'''<br>

(1.2) In determining, for the purpose of paragraph (1.1)(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 subsection (1);

:(b) an offence under subsection 85(1) or (2) or section 244 or 244.2; or

:(c) an offence under section 220, 236, 239, 272, 273, 279.1, 344 or 346 if a firearm was used in the commission of the offence.

'''Factors to consider'''<br>

(1.21) In imposing a sentence under paragraph (1.1)(a.2), the court shall take into account the age and vulnerability of the victim.

'''Sequence of convictions only'''<br>

(1.3) For the purposes of subsection (1.2), 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.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 279; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 39; 1995, c. 39, s. 147; 1997, c. 18, s. 14; 2008, c. 6, s. 30; 2009, c. 22, s. 12; 2013, c. 32, s. 1.

|[http://canlii.ca/t/7vf2#sec279 CCC]

R v Deo and Mangat, [http://canlii.ca/t/1v968 2007 BCCA 626] (CanLII)

''R v Brar'', [http://canlii.ca/t/g6s9j 2014 BCCA 175] (CanLII){{perBCCA|Willcock JA}} (3:0){{at|19}}

</ref> Another category is a "technical" kidnapping, usually where there was a "relatively short period of confinement", which should range between 4 to 6 years.<ref>

Brar at para 19

''R v Maltby'' (1986), 30 CCC (3d) 317, 17 O.A.C. 363 (C.A.){{NOCANLII}}</ref>

'''Offence-specific Orders'''

{{AOrder1| [[DNA Orders]]  |s. 279 |

* {{PrimDNA1|s. 279 [kidnapping or forceable confinement]}} }}

{{AOrder1| [[Weapons Prohibition Orders|Weapons Prohibition Orders]] |s. 279 |

* {{Section109|A|s. 279}}

* {{Section110|s. 279 [summary election]}} }}

{{AOrder1| [[Delayed Parole Eligibility|Delayed Parole Order]] |s. 279 |

* {{ParoleDelayEligible|1|s. 279}} }}

'''General Sentencing Orders'''

'''General Forfeiture Orders'''

'''Related Offences'''

'''References'''