Weird case of the week

R. v. Bell, British Columbia Court of Appeal

There are worse things than being called “T-Dog” — unless it leads to you being convicted for second-degree murder.

In R. v Bell, appellant Trevor Bell insisted the judge had erred by using the two names interchangeably.

T-Dog was the drug dealer who shot and killed a man who had offered some parenting advice during a drug deal, after T-Dog revealed he wanted to sexually assault his former partner who had custody of their child.

However, Chief Justice Lance Finch said the identification issue had been highlighted to the jury.

Bell also tried to claim the jury shouldn’t have been told about a carjacking he carried out the day after the shooting, using the murder weapon.

But Finch shot down this argument, pointing out that: "The appellant's possession and use of the murder weapon the day after the shooting, and his statement . . . that he was 'running from the cops because he killed somebody the night before or something' was very incriminating." It was "difficult to conceive" how the carjacking could've been ignored, he said.

The appeal was dismissed.

Recent articles & video

Roundup of law firm hires, promotions, departures: October 21, 2024 update

Federal Court of Appeal sets hearings for tax and radio broadcasting cases

KSDWP LLP appears in $10-million commercial case

Ronald Skolrood appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia

Shereen Miller appointed Commissioner of Financial Consumer Agency of Canada for five-year term

Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench welcomes new judge Kelli Potter

Most Read Articles

Ontario Superior Court orders man to vacate family property amid will dispute

SCC says Criminal Code changes bar judge from imposing driving ban on man who killed two with truck

Heenan Blaikie’s collapse changed Canada’s legal community, says chronicler of firm’s history

Alberta court allows legal costs in family dispute to survive bankruptcy without preferred status