Peck and Company lawyers Eric V. Gottardi, K.C., Rachel Wood, and Sarah Pringle successfully defended their client against a 13-count indictment involving allegations of sexual and physical assault. The complainant’s evidence unraveled over the course of a rigorous cross-examination and left the trial judge with a reasonable doubt. The client was found not guilty on all counts.
Category Archives: Latest News
Peck and Company Wins Sexual Interference Appeal
Peck and Company lawyers Richard C.C. Peck, K.C., and Mark Iyengar successfully appealed a client’s convictions for sexual interference and other related offences. The Court found that the trial judge’s reasoning was seriously flawed and ordered a new trial. In doing so, the Court recognized the important role of appeals in protecting against wrongful convictions.
The Court of Appeal’s decision can be found here.
Peck and Company Client Acquitted in Drug Importation Case
Peck and Company lawyers Caroline Senini, Casandra Tam, and Romi Laskin secured an acquittal for their client in a drug importation case. The client was accused of importing almost 15 kilograms of methamphetamine in a secret compartment in his car. The trial judge found the client not guilty on all charges, finding that much of the client’s testimony was corroborated by other evidence and that he was unaware of the drugs and secret compartment.
This was the client’s second trial on these charges. Peck and Company previously won an appeal from the client’s conviction in his first trial.
Peck and Company Client Acquitted in Public Mischief Case
Richard C.C. Peck, K.C., Eric V. Gottardi, K.C., and Lee Vandergust secured an acquittal for their client on a public mischief charge. The client reported to the police that his foot was run over in a hit and run, but was then suspected of having committed public mischief. Counsel argued that the client’s foot was indeed run over and that at no point did the client intend to mislead the police.
The trial judge found that the reports to the police were not intentionally misleading. Though an acquittal could have been awarded on that basis alone, the judge went on to find that he was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the client’s foot was run over. The judge acquitted him on both of those bases. The reasons for judgment are available here.
Peck and Company Wins Drug Importation Appeal
Peck and Company lawyers, Eric V. Gottardi, Q.C., Caroline Senini, and Mark Iyengar won an appeal from a drug importation conviction. The trial judge did not properly instruct the jury on what it meant for a fact to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the standard of proof in a criminal trial. Instead, the opening remarks and final instructions to the jury created the danger that a guilty verdict could have been reached on the basis that the appellant was “probably” guilty, which is a much lower standard. The Court of Appeal’s decision can be found here.