Call us at: 1 (250) 480-4040
  • Home
  • Our Firm
  • Criminal Law
    • Top Ten Mistakes
    • Assault FAQ
    • Criminal Appeals FAQ
    • Criminal Law FAQ
    • Driving While Prohibited FAQ
    • Drug Offences FAQ
    • Homicide
    • Impaired Driving FAQ
    • Sexual Assault
    • Spousal Assault
    • Theft & Fraud
    • Vehicle Impoundment FAQ
  • Computer Forensics
    • Computer Forensics Concepts
    • Computer Forensics Overview
    • Legal Issues
    • Our Forensics Training
    • Our Services
  • Legal News
  • Contact Us
  • Menu Menu

Lawyer Michael Mulligan – CFAX – Mr. Big Operations

June 25, 2015/in Legal News /by mtp_admin

mr_bigVictoria Criminal Lawyer Michael Mulligan on CFAX – Legally Speaking – discussing the police use of Mr. Big undercover operations. In a Mr. Big operation, undercover police officers pose as members of a fictitious criminal organization. The suspect is paid to perform various tasks for the fictitious origination and, typically, are treated to various lavish things including trips and meals. After months of this sort of activity the suspect is introduced to Mr. Big – the fictitious crime boss. They are then encouraged to confess to the crime being investigated in order to continue working for the fictitious criminal organization. Often the Mr. Big character suggests that the suspect will be charged and convicted of the offence due to some new fictitious evidence unless they admit to doing it – in which case the fake criminal organization can protect them.

Courts have concluded that this investigative technique can be extremely coercive and can result in suspects confessing to crimes that they did not commit.

As a result of a the 2014 Supreme Court of Canada decision in R. Hart confessions obtained in this way are presumptively inadmissible unless the Crown can establish that the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect and that the admission of the evidence wouldn’t result in an abuse of process. A court may exclude the Mr. Big confession for abuse of process if, for example, it was obtained by physically assaulting the suspect or threatening to do so if they don’t confess.

In a recent Victoria case, R. v. Streiling 2015 BCSC 1044, resulted in the accused being found not guilty even after the Mr. Big confession was found to be admissible as the judge concluded that it was not reliable. The judges reasons for finding the accused not guilty in that case can be found here: RvStreiling

https://mtplaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Mulligan-CFAX-Mr-Big.mp3
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Mail
https://mtplaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mtplaw-logo.svg 0 0 mtp_admin https://mtplaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mtplaw-logo.svg mtp_admin2015-06-25 13:52:322015-06-25 13:52:32Lawyer Michael Mulligan – CFAX – Mr. Big Operations

Contact Us

Robert A. Mulligan, K.C.
Michael T. Mulligan
Professional Experience

24 Hour Immediate Confidential Help

#105 – 777 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC, Canada  V8W 2G9
P  250-480-4040
F  250-480-0004
TF 1-800-664-2785

Subscribe to the Legally Speaking podcast

Get in Touch

#105 – 777 Blanshard St.,
Victoria BC, V8W 2G9.

  • Ph 1 (250) 480-4040
  • Fx 1 (250) 480-0004
  • Tf 1 (800) 664-2785

Mulligan Defence Lawyers

  • Criminal Law
  • Computer Forensics

Our Lawyers

  • Robert A. Mulligan, K.C.
  • Michael T. Mulligan
  • Facebook

© Copyright 2020 Mulligan Defence Lawyers

Lawyer Paul Pearson comments on acquittal in a Mr. Big caseOntario court upholds decision to deny approval to TWU law school
Scroll to top