Criminal Appeal Defence Lawyer in Toronto

During your trial, it’s possible to get an outcome that you were not expecting or hoping for, including a conviction or jail sentence. When this happens, you can request a higher court to review the criminal court’s decision by launching an appeal. A criminal defendant can appeal a conviction or a sentence through the Ontario Court of Appeal (indictable appeals) or the Supreme Court of Justice (summary conviction appeals). Note that the prosecution can also launch an appeal.

An appeal is not a new trial, and, with certain exceptions, no “new” evidence is introduced. The appellate court reviews your trial’s transcripts and the ruling made to determine if the presiding judge made any mistake. In order to increase your chances of a successful appeal, it’s requisite to retain an experienced litigator. They’ll help you identify any factual or legal errors made during your trial, building a solid foundation for your appeal.

Call us today for a free consultation.

In Canada, it’s possible to appeal your criminal conviction, sentence, or both. Although this is a right afforded to every individual in Canada, in some cases, you have to obtain a court’s permission, otherwise known as leave to appeal, to launch your appeal.

The criminal appeal process is quite complex and requires the expertise of an experienced criminal defence lawyer to navigate. Contact Bytensky Shikhman to assess the merit of your case and provide rigorous representation.

During a criminal appeal, the judges go through the transcripts and evidence from your first trial to find evidence that the decision rendered by the trial judge was unfair or unreasonable. For example, you may argue that the judge misapplied the law or that the sentence imposed is unrealistically harsh compared to the crime. The appointed judges go through the details of your previous case to determine if your appeal is valid and make a decision based on their findings.

Since it’s not a new trial, the appeal court doesn’t accept new evidence, except in infrequent circumstances. If the court accepts new evidence and finds it credible and relevant to your case, they may order a new trial.

To kick start your appeal and to learn more about the process, feel free to call our appellate lawyers in Toronto.

As you await your appeal hearing, it’s possible to be granted bail. This is called bail pending appeal, and it requires you to file a separate motion with the court hearing your appeal. The court considers the following before granting your bail request:

• There’s a fair chance that your appeal will be successful. If your appeal is frivolous or there’s no reasonable possibility of success, the court will deny your bail.
• Granting you bail will not defy public interest. This is one of the most important elements considered by the court. If you were convicted of a serious crime, or you’re a repeat offender, the court will not release you on bail pending your appeal.
• You will avail yourself in court during your appeal hearing. If the court believes that you’re a flight risk, you might not get released on bail.

A bail pending appeal hearing is quite complex and very vital to your appeal hearing. This is why it’s essential to consult an experienced appellate lawyer in Toronto to help you file your motion early and correctly.

Contact Bytensky Shikhman for a free evaluation of your case.

A conviction appeal is made to challenge whether the accused should have been found guilty or not guilty of an alleged offence. One example that can be a basis of a conviction appeal is when the evidence provided by the prosecution is incapable of proving and supporting a criminal offence.

On the other hand, a sentence conviction challenges the form and length of punishment imposed upon conviction for a crime. In such an appeal, one may argue that based on the evidence provided for an alleged offence, the sentence imposed is unreasonable and overly harsh.

If you’re looking to appeal the case, you can challenge either conviction or sentence or both at once. Both appeals are complex as one has to dig through the trial transcripts to find any factual or legal errors made by the judge, which form the basis of your appeal. It’s crucial to seek the guidance of an experienced lawyer to help you start your appeal.

Feel free to call us at 647-492-8505, and we’ll help you with every step of your conviction or sentence appeal.

In hybrid offences, the prosecution may choose to proceed by summary conviction, or the Criminal Code may require such an offence to be prosecuted summarily. Summary convictions are reserved for less serious crimes that carry minimal jail terms, among other penalties.

A summary conviction appeal is a challenge against a verdict or sentence resulting from a summary conviction. One judge hears these appeals at the Superior Court of Justice within the same jurisdiction where your trial took place. If you want to appeal a Superior Court decision on your summary conviction appeal, which rarely happens, you can do so at the Ontario Court of Appeal, with leave of the court.

Indictable offences are serious crimes that carry severe penalties upon the finding of guilt. All appeals for indictable offences are held at the Ontario Court of Appeal before a panel of 3 or 5 judges. As stipulated by section 686 of the Criminal Code, the Ontario Court of Appeal only accepts conviction appeals if the verdict imposed is unreasonable, a legal error was made, or justice was administered unfairly.

Appeals should be filed within 30 days from the day of sentencing. Therefore, it’s advisable to file your notice of appeal immediately after your conviction, even if you’re yet to retain an attorney. In some cases, however, it’s possible to launch an appeal after the 30-day window. For example, if you’re in custody, the court can accept your notice of appeal up to 6 months after sentencing, provided you explain the delay.

After a conviction, the sentencing judges usually impose ancillary court orders, such as driving prohibitions for impaired driving cases and registration as a sex offender for sexual assault offences. When you appeal your conviction, your appellate lawyer can help you get these orders lifted until your appeal hearing. This is usually done through a separate motion.