Accident and Mistake: Difference between revisions

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{{HeaderDefences}}
{{HeaderDefences}}
==General Principles==
==General Principles==
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The defences of accident or mistake will have different meaning depending on the context.
The defences of accident or mistake will have different meaning depending on the context.


Generally, an accident is a "mishap or untoward event not expected or designed", or "unforeseen contingency or occurrence".<ref>
Generally, an accident is a "mishap or untoward event not expected or designed", or "unforeseen contingency or occurrence".<ref>
R v Whitehorne [http://canlii.ca/t/1lp2r 2005 CanLII 34553] (NLPC)<br>
R v Whitehorne [http://canlii.ca/t/1lp2r 2005 CanLII 34553] (NLPC){{perNLPC|Gorman J}}<br>
R v Hill, [http://canlii.ca/t/1twzh 1973 CanLII 36], [1975] 2 SCR 402, (1974) 14 CCC (2d) 505 (SCC) at p. 510</ref>
R v Hill, [http://canlii.ca/t/1twzh 1973 CanLII 36], [1975] 2 SCR 402, (1974) 14 CCC (2d) 505 (SCC){{perSCC|Dickson J}} at p. 510</ref>


Most typically accident means that the accused did not mean to perform the ''actus reus'' or that the consequences of the ''actus reus'' were unintended.<ref>
Most typically accident means that the accused did not mean to perform the ''actus reus'' or that the consequences of the ''actus reus'' were unintended.<ref>
R v Tatton, [http://canlii.ca/t/g6g9d 2014 ONCA 273] (CanLII), at para 24<br>
R v Tatton, [http://canlii.ca/t/g6g9d 2014 ONCA 273] (CanLII){{perONCA|Pardu JA}}, at para 24<br>
R v Mathisen, [http://canlii.ca/t/21dw7 2008 ONCA 747] (CanLII), 239 CCC (3d) 63, at para 70<br>
R v Mathisen, [http://canlii.ca/t/21dw7 2008 ONCA 747] (CanLII), 239 CCC (3d) 63{{perONCA|Laskin JA}}, at para 70<br>
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'''Burden'''<Br>
'''Burden'''<Br>
Once the accused establishes there is an "air of reality" to the defence of accident or mistake, the crown must disprove the availability of the defence beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref>R v Sutherland, [http://canlii.ca/t/20t70 1993 CanLII 6614] (SK CA), (1994) 84 CCC (3d) 484 (Sask. C.A.) per Vanscise, J.A., at pp. 497-498</ref>
Once the accused establishes there is an "air of reality" to the defence of accident or mistake, the crown must disprove the availability of the defence beyond a reasonable doubt. <ref>R v Sutherland, [http://canlii.ca/t/20t70 1993 CanLII 6614] (SK CA), (1994) 84 CCC (3d) 484 (Sask. C.A.){{perSKCA|Vanscise JA}}, at pp. 497-498</ref>


'''General or Specific Intent Offences'''<br>
'''General or Specific Intent Offences'''<br>
The meaning of accident varies depending on the type of charge.<Ref>see [[Intention#Specific and General Intent]]</ref> Where it is a specific intent offence, an accident relates to a denial of voluntariness of the act or denial of intention to cause the outcome. For a general intent offence, an accident requires that the act was unexpected and by chance that was not foreseeable. <ref>
The meaning of accident varies depending on the type of charge.<Ref>see [[Intention#Specific and General Intent]]</ref> Where it is a specific intent offence, an accident relates to a denial of voluntariness of the act or denial of intention to cause the outcome. For a general intent offence, an accident requires that the act was unexpected and by chance that was not foreseeable. <ref>
Criminal Pleading & Practice, Ewaschuck, (2nd Edition) at para 21.0030<br>
Criminal Pleading & Practice, Ewaschuck, (2nd Edition) at para 21.0030<br>
R v Mathisen, [http://canlii.ca/t/21dw7 2008 ONCA 747] (CanLII) at para 70</ref>
R v Mathisen, [http://canlii.ca/t/21dw7 2008 ONCA 747] (CanLII){{perONCA|Laskin JA}} at para 70</ref>


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

Revision as of 19:15, 5 November 2018

General Principles

The defences of accident or mistake will have different meaning depending on the context.

Generally, an accident is a "mishap or untoward event not expected or designed", or "unforeseen contingency or occurrence".[1]

Most typically accident means that the accused did not mean to perform the actus reus or that the consequences of the actus reus were unintended.[2]

The effect in law is that the mens rea is not present. This is distinctive from mistake which occurs in “the realm of perception”.[3]

Burden
Once the accused establishes there is an "air of reality" to the defence of accident or mistake, the crown must disprove the availability of the defence beyond a reasonable doubt. [4]

General or Specific Intent Offences
The meaning of accident varies depending on the type of charge.[5] Where it is a specific intent offence, an accident relates to a denial of voluntariness of the act or denial of intention to cause the outcome. For a general intent offence, an accident requires that the act was unexpected and by chance that was not foreseeable. [6]

  1. R v Whitehorne 2005 CanLII 34553 (NLPC), per Gorman J
    R v Hill, 1973 CanLII 36, [1975] 2 SCR 402, (1974) 14 CCC (2d) 505 (SCC), per Dickson J at p. 510
  2. R v Tatton, 2014 ONCA 273 (CanLII), per Pardu JA, at para 24
    R v Mathisen, 2008 ONCA 747 (CanLII), 239 CCC (3d) 63, per Laskin JA, at para 70
  3. Whitehorne, supra
  4. R v Sutherland, 1993 CanLII 6614 (SK CA), (1994) 84 CCC (3d) 484 (Sask. C.A.), per Vanscise JA, at pp. 497-498
  5. see Intention#Specific and General Intent
  6. Criminal Pleading & Practice, Ewaschuck, (2nd Edition) at para 21.0030
    R v Mathisen, 2008 ONCA 747 (CanLII), per Laskin JA at para 70

See Also