Case information
Conduct a refined search of the Supreme Court of Canada database to obtain details on the status of a matter before the Court.
41682
Michael John William Ball v. His Majesty the King
(Ontario) (Criminal) (By Leave)
Docket
Judgments on applications for leave to appeal are rendered by the Court, but are not necessarily unanimous.
| Date | Proceeding | Filed By (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-25 | Close file on Leave | |
| 2025-07-24 |
Decision on motion to extend time to file and /or serve the leave application, The motion for an extension of time to serve and file the application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, Number C69547, 2024 ONCA 574, dated July 19, 2024, is dismissed. Dismissed |
|
| 2025-05-05 | All materials on application for leave submitted to the Judges, for consideration by the Court | |
| 2025-05-05 | Submission of motion to extend time to file and/ or serve the leave application, for consideration by the Court | |
| 2025-03-24 | Certificate (on limitations to public access), 23A, (Printed version filed on 2025-03-27) | His Majesty the King |
| 2025-03-24 | Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2025-03-24, (Printed version filed on 2025-03-27) | His Majesty the King |
| 2025-02-21 | Letter acknowledging receipt of a complete application for leave to appeal, FILE OPENED | |
| 2025-02-20 | Motion to extend the time to file and or serve the application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), (Included in the application for leave to appeal), Completed on: 2025-02-20 | Michael John William Ball |
| 2025-02-20 | Certificate (on limitations to public access), 23B | Michael John William Ball |
| 2025-02-20 | Certificate (on limitations to public access), 23A | Michael John William Ball |
| 2025-02-20 | Application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2025-02-20 | Michael John William Ball |
Parties
Please note that in the case of closed files, the “Status” column reflects the status of the parties at the time of the proceedings. For more information about the proceedings and about the dates when the file was open, please consult the docket of the case in question.
Main parties
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ball, Michael John William | Applicant | Active |
v.
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| His Majesty the King | Respondent | Active |
Counsel
Party: Ball, Michael John William
Counsel
Simon Kim
100-102 Atlantic Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M6P 1X9
Telephone: (416) 613-0416
FAX: (416) 613-8746
Email: jlockyer@lzzdefence.ca
Agent
2600 – 160 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1C3
Telephone: (613) 786-0211
FAX: (613) 563-9869
Email: matthew.estabrooks@gowlingwlg.com
Party: His Majesty the King
Counsel
Katie Doherty
Crown Law Office - Criminal
720 Bay Street, 10th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2S9
Telephone: (416) 326-4600
FAX: (416) 326-4656
Email: elise.nakelsky@ontario.ca
Summary
Keywords
Criminal law — Charge to jury — Reasonable doubt — Is a modified W.(D.) instruction mandatory or contingent — If contingent, then under what circumstances is it required?
Summary
Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.
The remains of Ms. Howlett were found in a river. Mr. Ball was charged with first degree murder. Cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs were found in Ms. Howlett’s liver. The defence argued that she died from an accidental drug and alcohol overdose. The defence asked that the jury charge include an instruction that if the jury did not find or believe that Ms. Howlett died of a drug overdose, but that body of evidence left them with a reasonable doubt that Mr. Ball caused her death, then he was entitled to an acquittal. The jury charge did not include that instruction. The jury convicted Mr. Ball of first degree murder. The Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal.
Lower court rulings
Ontario Superior Court of Justice
235/18
Conviction by jury of first degree murder
Appeal dismissed
Filed documents
The memorandums of argument on an application for leave to appeal will be posted here 30 days after leave to appeal has been granted unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of the memorandum by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.
If you have questions about a memorandum of argument or want to use a memorandum of argument, please contact the author of the memorandum of argument directly. Their name appears at the end of the memorandum of argument. The contact information for counsel is found in the “Counsel” tab of this page.
Downloadable PDFs
Not available
Related links
The factums of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here at least 2 weeks before the hearing unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of factums by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.
If you have questions about a factum or want permission to use a factum, please contact the author of the factum directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each factum.
Downloadable PDFs
Not available
Related links
The condensed books of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here upon receipt of the electronic version, 2 days prior to the scheduled appeal hearing. You may also obtain copies of condensed books by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.
If you have questions about a condensed book or want permission to use a condensed book, please contact the author of the condensed book directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each condensed book.
Downloadable PDFs
Not available