Criminal Trials

While 90% of criminal cases in Canada are resolved prior to trial by way of a guilty plea, trials are still a common and critical part of our criminal justice system. A trial is a formal court process by which a judge or jury determines your legal guilt or innocence. If you are found guilty at trial, a sentencing hearing will then occur to ...

Whether you are released from custody on a bail order, or detained in custody, navigating the criminal justice system can be extremely daunting to do alone. There are numerous steps to the life cycle of a criminal charge within the court system. Some of these steps you’ve surely heard of and may even have some familiarity with, while others are likely new to you. ...

A publication ban is an order of the court that prohibits anyone from publishing or disseminating information, evidence, or the identity of witnesses in a trial. While in Canada the media do have a constitutional right to publish information about court cases, publication bans have been recognized as a legitimate limit to this right. A publication ban will be granted upon successful application by ...

In order for someone to be convicted of a criminal offence in Canada, the Crown prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of both the actus reus and mens rea of the alleged offence. The actus reus of an offence refers to the actual criminal action, while the mens rea refers to the intent to commit the criminal act. ...