Patrick Healy This article begins by briefly tracing the development of automatism in Canadian criminal jurisprudence Most re cently R v Stone is remarkable not only for the pronounce ments of ID: 937028
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Automatism Confined Patrick Healy* This article begins by briefly tracing the development of
automatism in Canadian criminal jurisprudence. Most re- cently, R. v. Stone is remarkable not
only for the pronounce- ments of the majority, but also for the differences between them and
the reasons of the minority. The majority restates the substantive law of automatism and som
e of its evidentiary aspects. According to the majority, evidence of involuntari- ness that a
pparently arises from some form of automatism raises a presumption of mental disorder against
the accused. To displace that presumption and benefit from a defence cated a constitutional
question without notice and submis- sions. In effect, the Court used the Charter to legislat
e ordi- nary law. This article urges greater restraint by the Court in use of the Constitutio
n. Cet article ddbute en esquissant le ddveloppement de l'automatisme dans Iajurisprudence pd
nale canadienne. R c. Stone, une ddcision rdcente de ia Cour supreme du Canada, est remarquab
le non settlement pour les propos de la majoritd, mais aussi pour les diffdrences entre ceux-
ci et l'opinion ml- noritaire. La majoritd refait le droit substantif de Ia ddfense d'automat
isme, ainsi que quelques dldments de l'accus6 A la prdsomption d'innocence garanti par la Ch
arte canadienne des droits et libertr. La majoritd justifie sa pro- pre enfreinte en vertu de
l'article 1 de la Charte. Cotte ddmarche dnote une conception large par la Cour de son role
dans la rsolution de probl~mes dont elle prend conscience. Selon l'auteur, il smble que le dr
oit canadien ne puisse plus foumir ]a pleine protection du droit d'etre prdsum6 innocent La C
our supreme a tranch6 une question constitutionnelle sans prdavis et sans qu'elle ait 6t6 sou