Not Guilty Verdict – Manslaughter

Saul Simmonds, QC and Alex Steigerwald – Defended a recent case of R. v. D.P. wherein they were successful in raising defences of accident and self-defence. Mr. D.P. was charged with manslaughter in a one punch event that resulted in death. A verdict of not guilty was based upon both the defence of not having the intention to strike a blow and the court also found that even if the blow was intentional, it was within the scope of s. 34(1) of The Criminal Code, meaning that it amounted to self-defence.