R. v. Harbottle
Encyclopedia
R. v. Harbottle, is a leading Canadian case decided by the Supreme Court of Canada
on the standard of causation required in order for an accused to be convicted of first degree murder
under the Criminal Code of Canada
. The Court held that the standard must be strict requiring a "substantial and integral cause". On the facts, the Court found that Harbottle's conduct in holding the victim's legs while she was strangled to death was sufficient to be a substantial and integral cause.
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
on the standard of causation required in order for an accused to be convicted of first degree murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
under the Criminal Code of Canada
Criminal Code of Canada
The Criminal Code or Code criminel is a law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Its official long title is "An Act respecting the criminal law"...
. The Court held that the standard must be strict requiring a "substantial and integral cause". On the facts, the Court found that Harbottle's conduct in holding the victim's legs while she was strangled to death was sufficient to be a substantial and integral cause.