Defence arguments prevailed at the Supreme Court of Canada in the Surrey Six murder case. Brock Martland, KC and Elliot Holzman (along with Daniel Song, KC and Jonathan Desbarats) were counsel for Matthew Johnston on the case. The high court addressed the legal test for when the defence can advance Charter of Rights applications in criminal cases, and agreed…
Martland & Saulnier is delighted to announce that Melanie Heathman is joining the firm as an associate. Melanie joins the firm after completing her articles with us this past year. During her articles, she ran (and won) her first summary appeal — on the grounds of a miscarriage of justice. While in law school, Melanie…
On March 6, 2023, the BC Court of Appeal allowed an appeal from sentence brought by Trevor Martin on behalf of his client, a youth. The appeal dealt with two conditions in the client’s probation order. One of these conditions required the client to “follow the rules and regulations” of his residence. The appeals court…
On February 23, 2023, Trevor Martin’s client (a youth) was found not guilty of sexual assault following a three-day trial in Nanaimo. Mr. Martin had successfully pushed for extensive pre-trial disclosure and was able to use the resulting information in cross-examination to show that the complainant had a motive to fabricate the allegation. Mr. Martin…
Martland & Saulnier is delighted to announce that John M. Gordon, KC, is joining the firm as Associate Counsel. John is widely regarded as a leading appellate lawyer. For years he was counsel and director of the Crown's Criminal Appeals office, where he conducted dozens of appeals at the Court of Appeal for British Columbia…
December 2022
After a 13-day trial, Trevor Martin’s client, a member of the RCMP, was found not guilty of assault. His co-accused, another RCMP officer, was also acquitted. The Crown alleged that the officers used excessive force in the course of arresting a suspect who fled from a stolen car and later resisted arrest. Both…
October 2020 and October 2022
In October 2020, Brock Martland, QC and Elliot Holzman were counsel in the Court of Appeal on an appeal from conviction for six counts of first-degree murder in the Surrey Six shootings. The appeal was eight days in duration and was webcast live to the public. Brock had been counsel…
July 2022
After a seven-day jury trial, former Vancouver Canucks player Jake Virtanen was found not guilty of sexual assault. Brock Martland, QC was defence counsel, along with Colleen Elden. The high-profile trial took place only six months after the charge was laid. The case also involved a rare pre-trial appeal to the BC Court…
February 2022
On February 2, 2022, Canadian Lawyer magazine published its annual list of winners for the top criminal law boutiques in Canada. Martland & Saulnier was selected as one of only two British Columbia law firms on the list. Partners Brock Martland, QC and Joseph Saulnier were interviewed by Canadian Lawyer magazine about the…
November 2021
Crown counsel withdrew charges of: sexual assault, assault, unlawful confinement and threatening against Joe Saulnier’s client. The complainant was the client’s ex-girlfriend, who made allegations against him after a big argument and breakup. After she made her statement to police, the client was arrested at work and charged with these serious offences. The…
November 2021
Trevor Martin’s client was acquitted of drug trafficking charges in Youth Justice Court after a successful Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge led to the exclusion of all evidence. Trevor argued that his client’s rights were violated in the course of a strip search and that the evidence against him should not be…
September 2021
It is unusual for me to post statements or publish details of one of my client’s cases. Typically my clients want privacy, even when they have been acquitted or the charges dropped. This is for good reason, as additional publicity about criminal charges is rarely helpful, even after it is shown that my…
