Witness Recantations, Hostile Witnesses, Prior Inconsistent Statements, Domestic Allegations, and Crown Obligations in Ontario Criminal Cases

Few devices contain more personal information than a modern cell phone. For most Canadians, a cell phone contains years of private communications, photographs, internet searches, financial information, location data, health records, social media accounts, and intimate details about their personal lives.

One of the most fundamental principles of Canadian criminal law is the presumption of innocence. It is a cornerstone of the justice system and one of the most powerful protections available to anyone accused of a crime.

Modern drug investigations frequently revolve around one central piece of evidence: your phone.

Being contacted by police can be intimidating. Many people in Ottawa experience significant anxiety when they receive a call from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), particularly when an officer identifies themselves and asks the individual to come to the station for questioning. In some cases, the officer may even suggest that the person “turn themselves in” for questioning as part of an investigation.

When a criminal case involves well-known people — especially athletes or public figures — it doesn’t just unfold inside the courtroom. It plays out in headlines, online commentary, and public opinion long before a verdict is reached.

In recent years, the law in Canada around extreme intoxication — often called “automatism” — has changed dramatically. What used to be a nearly impossible defence is now legally recognized again, but under strict conditions.

In September 2025, the federal government of Canada officially designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code. This move marks a significant escalation in Canada’s approach to transnational organized crime. The effect is to treat certain criminal groups no longer merely as conventional organized crime networks, but as terrorist groups—with all the accompanying tools, presumptions, and legal implications that the anti-terror regime brings.

In allegations of sexual offences involving children, cross-examination is often the central mechanism through which the truth is tested. It is the principal safeguard that ensures the evidence presented against an accused person is both reliable and credible.

When we think of criminal defence in Ottawa, we often think of civilian courts — but right in our backyard (or up the highway, in Petawawa or Pembroke) lives an entirely different system: the military justice system.When we think of criminal defence in Ottawa, we often think of civilian courts — but right in our backyard (or up the highway, in Petawawa or Pembroke) lives an entirely different system: the military justice system.