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R. v. Conforti
Between
Her Majesty the Queen, (respondent), and
Enrico Conforti, (appellant)
And between
Julie Woodyer, Agent of the Peel Humane Society,
(appellant/prosecutor), and
Enrico Conforti, (respondent/defendant)
Ontario Court of Appeal
Toronto, Ontario
Catzman, Weiler and Laskin JJ.A.
Heard: May 16, 2000.
Judgment: May 23, 2000.
Appeal from:
On appeal from the decision, dated May 4, 1998, of Langdon J. sitting as a judge
of the summary conviction appeal court.
Counsel:
Anthony E. Bak, for Enrico Conforti.
Simon Shields, for the Peel Humane Society.
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?????The following judgment was delivered by
1 ????THE COURT (endorsement):-- In our view, the appeal must be allowed and the
cross-appeal must be dismissed.
2 ????The trial judge found Mr. Conforti's evidence clear and straightforward,
and expressed himself to be satisfied with the reasonableness of Mr. Conforti's
actions. There was evidence on which the trial judge could reasonably make the
findings and reach the conclusions that he did, and therefore the summary
conviction appeal court judge erred in law in holding the trial judge's verdict
to be perverse. Accordingly, Mr. Conforti's appeal with respect to the first
count must succeed.
3 ????On the cross-appeal, the Peel Humane Society advanced in this court the
argument that Mr. Conforti should have been convicted on the second count
because he failed to authorize medical treatment for the dog once it was in the
veterinarian's office. The evidence about what Mr. Conforti was prepared to do
at that stage is somewhat conflicting but, at minimum, it could not support a
finding that he wilfully neglected or failed to provide suitable and adequate
care for the animal. Accordingly, the Society's appeal with respect to the
second count must fail.
4 ????Leave is granted on both the appeal and the cross-appeal. The appeal is
allowed, the order of the summary conviction appeal court judge is set aside,
and the acquittal on count 1 is restored. The cross-appeal is dismissed.
5 ????We do not consider it appropriate to make any order as to costs.
CATZMAN J.A.
WEILER J.A.
LASKIN J.A.
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