JAKE SHEN

The most fundamental principle in the Canadian criminal justice system is provided, and guaranteed by section 11(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This section states the following:

Any person charged with an offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.

Many important legal principles governing how police can conduct their investigations, how the Crown can prosecute a case, and what evidence is admissible in a trial, can all trace their roots back to this important principle.

As a former police officer, Jake saw first-hand how this fundamental principle played out in our criminal justice system, and how powerful it can be. As a defence lawyer, Jake strives to construct all defences that are made available because of this fundamental principle – your presumption of innocence.