R. v. M.M., Hazelton First Nations Court (2022) – Mr. M was charged with arson, assault cause bodily harm, uttering threats and obstruction in relation to an incident involving his family. Kasandra Cronin, Q.C. worked with Mr. M to complete residential treatment, prepare a Gladue Report, and participate in Indigenous court. Initially the Crown sought a 3-5 year jail sentence. Due to Ms. Cronin’s and Mr. M’s efforts, he was sentenced to a community based sentence – no jail.
R. v. M.F., Vancouver Provincial Court (2022) – Mr. F was charged with assaulting a police officer. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. was able to convince the Crown to agree to alternative measures, and all charges were dropped.
R. v. S.E., Surrey Provincial Court (2022) – Mr. E was charged with a firearms offence. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. persuaded the Crown to drop the charges after providing significant background information, and Mr. completed counselling.
R. v. J.O., Vancouver Supreme Court (2021) – Mr. O was charged with a number of serious historical assaults against his ex-wife and children. During the lengthy trial, Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. cross-examined each witness and successfully undermined their testimony so that the Judge could not rely on their evidence. Mr. O was acquitted of all charges – found not guilty.
R. v. K.L., Prince George Supreme Court (2021) – Mr. L was charged with murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault. At trial Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. and Kalila Wilkinson successfully challenged the evidence of the Crown’s psychiatrist, and persuaded the Court that Mr. L was suffering from a mental illness such that he was found to be not criminally responsible for the acts. Instead of receiving a life sentence, he will be treated at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital and will not spend any further time in jail.
R. v. V.L., Vancouver Provincial Court (2021) – Mr. L entered a guilty plea to possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl and cocaine. The Crown sought an 18 month jail sentence. Ms. Cronin, Q.C. was able to convince the Court that a suspended sentence was appropriate. Mr. L received a three year probation order – no jail.
R. v. D.G., Quesnel Supreme Court (2020) – Ms. G was charged with break and enter and assault. Initially the Crown was seeking a multi-year jail sentence. Our office was able to convince the Crown to take a plea to mischief, and agree to a time served sentence with one-year probation. It was a complex case that required a creative resolution.
R. v. Doucette and Gunanoot, 2020 BCSC 907
R. v. K.L., Prince George Supreme Court (2020) – Mr. L was charged with trafficking narcotics, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of firearms. He faced a two week trial. Mr. La Liberte, Q.C. filed a Charter challenge regarding the search of a residence, a disclosure application and a delay application. Based of the likely success of those applications, on the fourth day of trial the Crown dropped all of the charges, entered a Stay of Proceedings.
R. v. J.L., Vancouver Supreme Court (2019) – Ms. L was charged with murder, but plead guilty to manslaughter. At sentencing the Crown sought a 4-6 year jail sentence. Ms. Cronin was able to persuade the Court to impose a 2 year sentence, followed by 3 years probation.
R. v. A.C., Vancouver Provincial Court (2019) – Mr. C was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking fentanyl and heroin. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. successfully challenged the evidence at trial by bringing a Charter application to exclude the evidence. Mr. C was found not guilty of all charges at the conclusion of his trial.
R. v. J.B., Vancouver Provincial Court (2019) – Mr. B was charged with aggravated assault, and assault with a weapon. Ms. Cronin successfully challenged the Crown’s case on identification and recognition evidence. On the second day of trial the Crown dropped the charges, entered a Stay of Proceedings.
R. v. D.V., Prince George Supreme Court (2018) – Mr. V was charged with aggravated sexual assault. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. successfully challenged the Crown’s evidence on identification and Mr. V was found not guilty at trial. In fact, the Judge commented that based on Mr. La Liberté’s cross-examination it was more likely that someone else committed the offence. Mr. V was acquitted of all charges.
R. v. C.A., Kelowna Supreme Court (2018) – Mr. A was charged with murder. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. convinced the Court to release Mr. A on bail while awaiting trial. Mr. La Liberté and Ms. Cronin successfully defended him at trial, and the jury acquitted him of murder, but found him guilty of manslaughter. At sentencing the Crown sought a 4-8 year jail sentence. Our firm convinced the Court to impose a suspended sentence, no jail time.
R. v. Alphonse, 2018 BCSC 2045 ; Castanet News Article
R. v. C.I., Vancouver Provincial Court (2018) – Mr. I was charged with break and enter, along with a number of other offences. Based on a Gladue Report and the circumstances that Mr. I faced, Ms. Cronin convinced that Crown to reduce their sentencing position from 12-18 months jail, to a sentence of time served, 18 days.
R. v. C.H., Massett Provincial Court (2017) – Mr. H was charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition, and trafficking drugs. Mr. H was found in the residence with those items, along with many of his personal documents. At trial Ms. Cronin convinced the Court that he did not possess the guns and drugs, and that other people had access to the house. As a result Mr. H was acquitted of all charges.
R. v. D.F., Surrey Provincial Court (2017) – Mr. F was charged with trafficking drugs after he was observed by undercover police officers. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. convinced the Crown that the arrest and search were unlawful and contrary to the Charter. As a result all of the charges were dropped before the trial.
R. v. P.B., Bella Bella Provincial Court (2017) – Mr. B was charged with sexual assault. At trial Mr. La Liberté successfully cross-examined the complainant, and convinced the Court that Mr. B should be acquitted.
R. v. M.G., Prince George Supreme Court (2017) – Ms. G was charged with assault with a weapon and criminal harassment. The allegations were historical and involved her family. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. successfully defended her at a hard fought trial and she was acquitted.
R. v. I.D., Port Coquitlam Provincial Court (2017) – Mr. D was charged with sexual assault. Ms. Cronin challenged the Crown’s evidence at trial and convinced the Court that Mr. D ought to be acquitted.
R. v. R.J., Vancouver Provincial Court (2016) – Mr. J was charged with manslaughter and robbery. After a long and very complex trial, Ms. Cronin in her closing argument articulated the legal and factual gaps in the Crown’s evidence. The Court agreed with her argument and acquitted Mr. J of all charges.
R. v. Lloyd, Supreme Court of Canada (2016) – Mr. Lloyd challenged the constitutionality of the mandatory minimum sentence imposed upon him after he was convicted of possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking. Ms. Cronin was asked to represent West Coast LEAF as an intervener, to argue how the legislation would specifically impact female offenders. She had the privilege of appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada to make that argument.
R. v. R.W., Vancouver Supreme Court (2016) – Mr. W was charged with sexual assault. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. effectively defended him at trial and he was acquitted.
R. v. J.E., Vancouver Provincial Court (2016) – Ms. E was charged with unlawful confinement, threatening and assault. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. convinced the Crown that the case was weak and on the eve of trial all charges were dropped.
R. v. D.S., Vancouver Supreme Court (2016) – Mr. S was charged with sexual assault. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. successfully undermined the complainant’s evidence at the Preliminary Inquiry, such that on the eve of the Supreme Court trial the Crown entered a stay of proceedings and dropped the charge.
R. v. B.S., Vancouver Supreme Court (2015) – Mr. S was charged with sexual assault. He was alleged to have had intercourse with the complainant without her consent. Through an aggressive cross-examination and the presentation of a successful defence case, Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. was able to obtain an acquittal at trial. Mr. S was found not guilty.
R. v. P.B., Bella Bella Provincial Court (2015) – Mr. B was charged with sexual assault, unlawful confinement and assault. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. successfully cross-examined the complainant, and was able to convince the Judge that her evidence was not reliable. Mr. B did not testify, and he was acquitted, found not guilty of all charges at the conclusion of his trial.
R. v. K.M., Chilliwack Supreme Court (2015) – Mr. M was charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession for the purpose of trafficking marijuana and theft of hydro. He was alleged to have lived on property where a marijuana grow operation was located. While represented by other counsel, he entered a guilty plea. Mr. M then asked Kasandra Cronin, Q.C. to assist him in withdrawing his guilty plea. Over the strenuous objection from the prosecutor, Ms. Cronin was successful in convincing the Court to allow Mr. M’s guilty plea to be struck. Given the success of this application, the prosecutor reviewed her file and entered a stay of proceedings, meaning the charges were dropped.
R. v. Orr, British Columbia Court of Appeal Court (2015) – Mr. Orr was convicted under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of essentially human trafficking related to his employment of a nanny. He was sentenced to jail. At trial he was represented by other counsel. Terry La Liberté, Q.C. and Kasandra Cronin, Q.C. successfully argued several points of law, that he was improperly convicted, and that his conviction should be overturned. The Court of Appeal agreed with our arguments and Mr. Orr was granted a new trial.
R. v. R.M., North Vancouver Provincial Court (2015) – Mr. M was charged with robbery. He was alleged to have stolen a tablet from London Drugs, and threatened an employee with a knife as he fled. A videotape of the incident was presented as evidence that it was Mr. M who committed this robbery. Two police officers testified they recognized him in the video. Kasandra Cronin, Q.C. successfully argued that the videotaped evidence was not enough to convict Mr. M. Despite the clear image of the crime, and the similarities between Mr. M and the perpetrator, the Judge was persuaded by Ms. Cronin’s argument and acquitted Mr. M. He was found not guilty.
R. v. T.R., Vancouver Provincial Court (2014) – Ms. R was charged with mischief and participating in the Vancouver riot. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. persuaded the Crown to take a plea to simply participating in a riot. At sentencing the Crown asked for a jail sentence. Mr. La Liberté convinced the Judge to impose a conditional discharge, which means that our client will have no criminal record. Of the over 250 convictions for riot offences, only 5 accused have received conditional discharges. Because the Judge was persuaded by Mr. La Liberté’s very able submissions, Ms. R will be able to continue her life without the burden of a criminal record.
R. v. T.H., Abbotsford Provincial Court (2014) – Mr. H was charged with possession of a handgun that was located after his vehicle was searched by police. He was facing a mandatory minimum 3 year prison sentence. La Liberté Cronin took the position the search was illegal and successfully persuaded the Crown to drop the charges before trial. A stay of proceeding was entered, the gun was forfeited and a substantial amount of cash that had been seized was returned to our client.
R. v. J.E., Vancouver Provincial Court (2014) – Mr. E, an alleged drug enforcer, was charged with assault causing bodily harm after the complainant went to hospital suffering from a skull fracture. At trial Ms. Cronin was successful in challenging the complainant’s evidence through cross-examination. As a result, the Judge agreed with her argument that the complainant’s evidence was unreliable, and acquitted Mr. E, he was found not guilty.
R. v. D.N., New Westminster Supreme Court (2014) – Mr. N was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking both cocaine and heroin. The drugs were found in his vehicle after he was pulled over and his car was searched by the R.C.M.P. Before the trial, and after effective cross-examination at the Preliminary Inquiry, Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. and Ms. Cronin were successful in convincing the Crown that the arrest and search were unlawful. The Crown entered a stay of proceedings, meaning the charges were dropped.
R. v. R.R., British Columbia Provincial Court (2014) – Mr. R was charged with driving while impaired, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a loaded handgun. The gun, a large quantity of cash and heroin were found in the vehicle. The Crown had sought a sentence of 3-5 years in jail, and Mr. R’s previous lawyer had advised he would receive a jail sentence of at least 18 months. On the recommendation of others, Mr. R retained La Liberté Cronin. We were able to convince the Crown that their case was seriously flawed. As such, on the eve of trial, the Crown agreed to drop the gun charge, and take a plea to impaired driving and simple possession of a Narcotic. Crown sought a driving suspension of 4 years because of Mr. R’s extensive driving record. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. convinced the Court that the minimum one year driving suspension was sufficient, followed by probation. Mr. R was able to avoid what other counsel had determined to be an inevitable jail term.
R. v. S.W., Smithers Supreme Court (2014) – Mr. W was convicted of 2nd Degree Murder and sentenced to life in prison at his first trial while represented by another lawyer. He appealed his conviction and was granted a new trial. Mr. W had stabbed the deceased in the back 5 times, during a fight. Terry La Liberté, Q.C. successfully defended Mr. W at his second trial. Kasandra Cronin, Q.C. assisted with the research and trial strategy. The Judge agreed with our argument that Mr. W had acted in self defence. Because of the experience and judgment our firm brought to the file, we were able to secure a result for our client that others could not have achieved. Mr. W was acquitted of murder, found not guilty of all charges at the conclusion of his trial.
R. v. C.W., British Columbia Supreme Court (2014) – Mr. W was charged with 2nd Degree Murder. At trial, the Judge acquitted him of murder, and instead convicted Mr. W of manslaughter. At sentencing the Crown asked for a sentence of 8 years minus time served. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. and Ms. Cronin were successful in arguing against such a long sentence. Mr. W was sentenced to just less than 2 years jail, followed by 18 months probation.
R. v. B.S., Vancouver Provincial Court (2014) – Mr. S was alleged to have threatened his wife. After successful negotiations with Crown Counsel, Ms. Cronin was able to have the charges dropped.
R. v. M.R., New Westminster Supreme Court (2014) – Mr. R was charged with murder. At the conclusion of the Preliminary Inquiry, as a result of Terry La Liberté’s aggressive and successful cross-examination of the civilian witnesses, Mr. R was ordered to stand trial only as an accessory after the fact to the murder and discharged on the murder count. Based on that cross-examination, Terry La Liberté, Q.C. was able to convince the Court that Mr. R ought to be released from jail while waiting for his trial. On the eve of the trial the Crown directed a stay of proceedings, all charges were dropped. This success was as a result of Terry La Liberté’s preparation and his undermining of the Crown’s evidence.
R. v. H.B., Penticton Provincial Court (2013) – Mr. B was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. He was arrested with a passenger in his car after the police located drugs and cash. At trial Terry La Liberté, Q.C., despite the strong evidence, successfully argued the Crown could not prove he possessed the drugs and cash. Mr. B was acquitted, found not guilty.
R. v. T.G., Surrey Provincial Court (2013) – Mr. G was arrested after the police executed a warrant and searched his apartment. There was strong evidence that the apartment was being used as a stash house for a large drug operation. At trial Kasandra Cronin, Q.C. argued the evidence should be excluded because the police used a ram to enter the apartment. The Judge agreed with her argument, that the police conduct was oppressive and unreasonable. The evidence was excluded and Mr. G was found not guilty.
R. v. Pop, British Columbia Court of Appeal (2013) – Mr. Pop was charged with murder, but at trial Terry La Liberté, Q.C. persuaded the Crown to accept a plea to the lesser charge of Manslaughter. At sentencing Mr. Pop was sentenced to 5 years in jail. Terry LaLiberté successfully argued on appeal that the sentence was too high, and the Court of Appeal lowered the sentence to 4 years.
R. v. D.A., Vernon Supreme Court (2012) – Ms. A was a teacher charged with sexually assaulting a student. At the end of a long and emotional trial, she was acquitted. The Judge had “fundamental and significant problems” whether or not a sexual relationship had taken place. Terry La Liberté’s cross-examination of the witnesses was crucial for this acquittal.
Vernon Morning Star News Article
R. v. K.M., Smithers Supreme Court (2012) – Ms. M plead guilty to aggravated assault. The Crown sought a sentence of more than 2 years in jail. Our client was sentenced to 3 years probation (no jail time).
R. v. S.S., New Westminster Supreme Court (2011) – Mr. S was charged with possession a handgun in a man purse. At trial, Terry La Liberté, Q.C. successfully argued that our client’s Charter rights were violated when the police searched his bag, and that the search was not reasonable. The evidence was excluded and our client was found not guilty. (The Province, February 10, 2011)
R. v. N.N., New Westminster Supreme Court (2010) – Ms. N was charged with murder. A jury acquitted her of murder, and convicted her of manslaughter. At sentencing the Crown sought a sentence of 7 to 9 years. Our client received a sentence of 2 years in custody.
R. v. G.W., Quesnel Supreme Court (2010) – Mr. W was charged with murder, after he confessed during a R.C.M.P. Mr. Big undercover investigation. Despite that confessions, at trial, Mr. W was acquitted of all charges.
R. v. P.W., Vancouver Provincial Court (2009) – Mr. W was Captain of the Farley Mowat and was charged with shipping offences. His vessel and crew were arrested in Capetown South Africa on a warrant from the Canadian Government. He, the ship and crew escaped but the charges were outstanding and the Captain elected to face his accuser in Canada. His original lawyers recommended a guilty plea. As the result of Terry La Liberté’s efforts the charges were dropped before trial. According to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, “with a heavyweight lawyer, Terry La Liberté, the government of Canada has backed down and has officially dropped the charges against Captain Watson citing lack of evidence to support their case. “ (June 18, 2009 Sea Shepherd Victory in the Canadian Courts)
U.S.A. v. John Graham (aka John Boy Patton), British Columbia Supreme Court (2005) – Mr. Graham, a member of the Champagne Nation of the Yukon Territories, was indicted in the United States for the murder of another Canadian Indigenous person, Anna Mae Aquash. The United States sought to have him extradited from Canada for this murder that occurred in 1976. This case drew international attention, beginning with events in 1973 when the American Government surrounded the Pine Ridge Reserve in South Dakota. Those events evoked the shameful history of the decimation of the Lakota people at the hands of the American Army and the senseless massacre of 300 Lakota men, women and children at Wounded Knee Creek in 1890. Mr. La Liberté, Q.C. assembled a team to fight the extradition. This team was supported by such luminaries as Noam Chomsky and Amnesty International. Over six years of intense litigation, Mr. La Liberté’s efforts exposed several misleading assertions and outright lies by the United States. Having exhausted all legal avenues, however, the Canadian Government, in an unprincipled political move, sent Mr. Graham to face a trial in the United States where he was convicted, but not on the charges he was extradited upon.
Photo: Noam Chomsky, Terry LaLiberté and John Graham
R. v. Mapara, British Columbia Court of Appeal (2001) – Mr. Mapara was convicted of First Degree Murder. We were successful in having Mr. Mapara released on bail while awaiting the appeal of his conviction. The Crown appealed that decision, and the Court of Appeal agreed Mr. Mapara should remain out of jail while waiting for his appeal to be heard. This is now one of the leading reported cases for an accused charged with murder, to be released on bail. This was the first case of a person convicted of First Degree Murder to be released on bail pending appeal. (R. v. Mapara 158 C.C.C. (3d) 312)