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- High Authority
- Posts: 2881
- Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:26 pm
- Location: Toronto
You have a right to a speedy and fair trial, but disclosure is a bit of a different animal. In short, yes, if they don't give you proper disclosure, the proceedings can be stopped. The Crown must get the disclosure package ready for you in a reasonable amount of time before the trial, if you've requested one. If they don't, you can file a motion to "stay" the proceedings. On the day of trial, the Justice of the Peace will review the motion, look at when the disclosure request was made, what the Crown did to comply, what is missing and how it would affect the outcome. After that, he or she will decide if the proceedings must be quashed or can continue, or if something like an adjournment would be appropriate.
To get the proceedings stayed, you have to show that the Crown failed in their duty to disclose, and it wasn't just a simple error or omission. A simple error or missing document can be fixed by an adjournment - gives the Crown time to get the info to you. (At least, this is what I've seen from having observed POA trials.)