Innocent Possession
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General Principles
The doctrine of "innocent possession" is a potential defence to possession of child pornography. The doctrine is a "public duty defence" which permits possession for lawful purposes such as delivering it to authorities.[1] It also excuses possession where it is for the sole purpose of immediately destroying the materials or placing them beyond his control.[2]
By establishing this limited intention, there will be an absence of a blameworthy state of mind or blameworthy conduct. Mere technical findings of knowledge and control should not constitute possession.[3]
Innocent possession will generally not apply where the created and access dates of the deleted files show evidence that the user knowingly storing the files for a period of time before deleting them. Further evidence of selective deleting of files shows an intent to sort rather than destroy.[4]
- ↑
R v Loukas, 2006 ONCJ 219 (CanLII), [2006] O.J. No. 2405 (Ont. C.J.) per Green J. - discussing drug possession
R v Chalk, 2007 ONCA 815 (CanLII) at para 24
- ↑ R v Braudy 2009 CanLII 2491 (ON SC) at para 92 citing Chalk, at para 23
- ↑ R v Chalk, 2007 ONCA 815 (CanLII), 227 CCC (3d) 141 at 24
- ↑ See e.g. Braudy at para 93 and 94