Owen Goddard
Owen excels in all things criminal law.
Owen has an undergraduate and Masters degree in Criminology. He graduated in the top 10% of his class at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He won several awards in law school, including prizes for the highest grades in both Criminal Procedure and Evidence. After graduating, Owen clerked for the Honourable Justice Moldaver at the Supreme Court of Canada. Owen is also an Adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and teaches evidence to upper year law students.
Owen enjoys complex litigation. He has been counsel on homicide trials and preliminary hearings. He has represented clients facing complicated criminal charges, including fraud, breach of trust, and sexual assault complaints involving numerous complainants.
Owen is also a discreet and persuasive negotiator. He has negotiated resolutions for many professionals charged with serious offences, and often acts for teachers and nurses. In addition to his trial work, Owen is also a skilled appeal lawyer and has argued cases before the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. He also has experience in regulatory proceedings. He has worked on prosecutions for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and has acted for clients before administrative tribunals including at the Ontario Review Board and in Coroner’s Inquests.
Prior to founding Goddard & Shanmuganathan LLP, Owen summered at the Downtown Crown Attorney’s Office and worked as an associate for the now Honourable Justice Breese Davies.
Cases
Trials
R. v. L.E. (2019) – defending a retired principal against allegations of sexual offences made by three complainants. The client was acquitted on all counts after a trial in the Superior Court of Justice.
R. v. R. P. (2019) – defending a teacher against allegations of sexual offences made by three complainants. The client was acquitted on all counts after a trial in the Ontario Court of Justice.
R. v. D.K. (2019) – defending a client charged with second degree murder. The client was found not guilty by a jury.
R. v. F.L. (2019) – defending a client charged with second degree murder. The client was discharged after a preliminary hearing and all charges were dismissed.
R. v. T.G. (2019) – defending a teacher accused of sexual offences by 15 complainants. The Crown’s similar fact application was dismissed and the client was acquitted of many of the allegations.
R. v. D.B. (2018) – defending a teacher accused of indecent acts involving a former student
R. v. E.H. (2018) – defending a client accused of sexual offences involving two complainants
R. v. R.C. (2018) – defending a teacher charged with sexual exploitation
R. v. D.C. (2017) – defending a teacher charged with sexual offences against 14 students. The Crown’s similar fact application was dismissed and the teacher was acquitted on all counts.
R. v. A.X. (2017) – defending a nurse accused of sexual assault by a patient. The client was acquitted on all counts.
R. v. M.N. (2017) – defending a client against charges of assault made by her spouse. The client was acquitted on all counts.
R. v. S.B. (2017) – defending a client charged with first degree murder
R. v. W.H. (2016) – defending a teacher accused of sexual assault by a student. The client was acquitted of all counts.
R. v. I.S. (2016) – defending a teacher accused of sexual assault by a student. The client was acquitted of all counts.
R. v. M.S. (2016) – defending a client charged with manslaughter in the tragic accidental drowning of a young child. The client was acquitted on all counts.
R. v. T.H. (2015) – defending a client charged with first degree murder
Contact us about your case
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Telephone: 647-525-1399
Email: info@gsllp.ca
Address:
116 Simcoe Street, Suite 100
Toronto, ON
M5H 4E2