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Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Episode 323

As the temperatures drop and winter driving challenges loom, let’s take a break from our usual tales of bizarre crimes and outrageous legal antics to honor those who make a difference daily: bus drivers. This week’s Weird and Wacky Wednesdays highlights bus drivers who didn’t just do their job—they went above and beyond to protect and serve their communities. From rescuing children to putting out fires, these drivers are here to remind us that everyday heroes are out there, rain or shine.

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Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Episode 323Read More »

Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Episode 323 Read More »

A Deeper Look at the Limits of Your Right to Protest

The case of R v Pawlowski, 2024 ABCA 342 explores the boundaries of the right to protest in a democratic society. Artur Pawlowski was convicted of inciting mischief due to a speech he gave during a protest that blocked the Coutts border crossing in Alberta, Canada. This protest was in opposition to COVID-19 public health measures.

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A Deeper Look at the Limits of Your Right to ProtestRead More »

A Deeper Look at the Limits of Your Right to Protest Read More »

Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Episode 322

This week on Weird and Wacky Wednesdays, we’re taking a look at the strangest smuggling attempts, where criminals have gotten creative with hiding drugs in everyday foods. From potatoes to avocados, here’s a roundup of how agricultural products are being used to ship drugs across borders—and how authorities keep unearthing these schemes.

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Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Episode 322Read More »

Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Episode 322 Read More »

Delay to Trial & Judicial Unavailability: Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t!

Welcome to another episode of Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t!

In this episode, Kyla Lee from Acumen Law Corporation explores the case of Brandon McNeil, highlighting critical issues around trial delays and judicial discretion under Jordan principles.

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Delay to Trial & Judicial Unavailability: Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t!Read More »

Delay to Trial & Judicial Unavailability: Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t! Read More »

Could Auto-Brewery Syndrome Be My Defense Against DUI Charges?

If you are facing a DUI charge but know you haven’t been drinking, you might be wondering how to defend yourself. One rare condition, Auto-Brewery Syndrome, may be relevant to your case. Auto-Brewery Syndrome is a condition wherein ingested carbohydrates are converted into alcohol by fungi in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can result in elevated blood alcohol levels, even without consuming any alcoholic beverages. While rare, it has significant medical and legal implications.

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Could Auto-Brewery Syndrome Be My Defense Against DUI Charges?Read More »

Could Auto-Brewery Syndrome Be My Defense Against DUI Charges? Read More »

Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Episode 321

We all love a good meal out. Surprisingly, it’s not uncommon for restaurants to serve drugs as well as food. This week’s Weird and Wacky Wednesdays is all about how some restaurant operators got caught up in criminal activity and another restaurant owner who was wrongly arrested, perhaps because the police are starting to think restaurants are a front for crime. Let’s dive into the latest oddities in the world of dealing and dining.

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Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Episode 321Read More »

Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Episode 321 Read More »

Circumstantial Evidence & Sexual Assault: Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t!

Welcome to “Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t!”

In this episode, Kyla Lee from Acumen Law Corporation discusses a crucial case involving circumstantial evidence in a sexual assault trial, highlighting issues surrounding consent and the evidentiary standards for intoxication.

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Circumstantial Evidence & Sexual Assault: Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t!Read More »

Circumstantial Evidence & Sexual Assault: Cases That Should Have Gone to the Supreme Court of Canada, But Didn’t! Read More »

Big Blood Testing News

Forensic lab scene with BD Vacutainer® tubes on a lab counter, gloved hands holding a tube for blood testing DUI and analysis

The company that manufactures the approved tubes for blood collection in Canada has made some massive changes to their blood tubes. This will undoubtedly have an impact on DUI cases in Canada.

BD Life Sciences has made several changes to its Vacutainer® Fluoride Blood Collection Tubes. The company has received FDA clearance in the United States for an expanded indication for use, which now includes lactate testing for the Sodium Fluoride/KOx tube. This is the grey-stoppered forensic tube, used to collect blood samples for drug and alcohol analysis in DUI cases.

The changes do not impact the design, form, or fit of the products. But they do impact the laws and regulations that apply to blood drug and alcohol testing in Canada.

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Big Blood Testing NewsRead More »

Big Blood Testing News Read More »

Challenging Speeding Tickets When Laser or Radar Were Used to Measure Your Speed

Close-up of a police officer holding a RADAR gun by the roadside with blurred cars passing by in the background, capturing the act of speed measurement. Speeding tickets laser radar

For people who receive a speeding ticket, it can feel like an overwhelming process. Many people fall under the misconception that if the officer used laser or RADAR to measure their speed, there are no defences. Police tend to hold these devices out as exact, unchallengeable, and perfect instruments for measuring speed.

Even if that were true (and it’s not) that does not mean the evidence of the result, or its degree of accuracy, is automatically admissible in court.

As a criminal defence lawyer who has handled thousands of traffic ticket cases, I have seen cases where the speed reading was found not to be credible, reliable, or admissible. A recent BC Supreme Court case adds a layer of complexity to the ability of police to prove the speed reading is accurate and the margin of error.

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Challenging Speeding Tickets When Laser or Radar Were Used to Measure Your SpeedRead More »

Challenging Speeding Tickets When Laser or Radar Were Used to Measure Your Speed Read More »

Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Volume 320

landscape scene combining three distinct elements_ a police badge next to broken liquor bottles, a refrigerated truck spilling large blocks of cheddar

You’d think that the people we rely on to enforce the law would set a higher standard for morality, but this week’s Weird and Wacky shows us that police officers are no more immune to temptation than anyone else. Whether it’s stealing cheddar—both the money kind and the literal cheese kind—these stories remind us that officers, too, have desires to have more, and sometimes, they take it too far.

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Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Volume 320Read More »

Weird and Wacky Wednesdays: Volume 320 Read More »

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