Criminal Proceedings

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We meet with you to get detailed information, photographs, and we may investigate the scene of the alleged crime. If necessary, we will hire an investigator to assist.

At or prior to your first court appearance we take steps to request and obtain documents from the Crown Attorney’s office as to what evidence and information has been garnered in your case, who will be the witnesses and what they will say etc.

We meet with the Crown Attorney and then with a Judge to discuss resolution of your case and, possibly reach an agreement on how to deal with the charges, failing which we discuss the amount of trial time required.  

Rest assured that extensive legal research will be completed before your trial date and you will be well prepared if we decide it is necessary for you to give evidence.

You will enter a plea of either “guilty” (and if so we will move immediately to sentencing) or “not guilty.” If you plea not guilty, the Crown will call its witnesses and the trial will proceed. If acquitted, the matter is complete and you walk out of the court room. If found guilty of one or more charges we will move your matter to the sentencing stage.

The Crown Attorney will make submissions to the Judge as to what is the appropriate sentence, and we would do likewise. A Judge imposes a sentence, which, in the Judge’s view, is appropriate in all of the circumstances. A probation officer would meet with you and contact others to complete a detailed report, which would be made available to the Crown, your Defence counsel and the Judge prior to a sentence being imposed.