George Gibson Trial In Canada

Since 1867, all civilian executions in Canada were conducted by hanging until it was abolished in 1966. During the time, capital punishment, which constituted murder, attempted murder, rape, treason, or carnal knowledge of girls less than ten years of age, was well suited under Canadian law as a crime of deterrence. The theory of deterrence presumes that it can use fear to prevent people from committing criminal acts. However, interpersonal conflicts over status, resources, control, and reputation produce the vast majority of criminal homicides in Canada. In Toronto of 1919, George J. Coppen was found guilty for the murder of his wife, who died in a tragic fire in their home on 573 Merton Street. He was condemned to death by hanging, but his

Gibson, submitted an application to the Court of Appeal in Osgoode Hall on a charge of unfairness. T.A Gibson objected to being forced to address the jury last at the trial, which is a violation of sub-section 3 of section 944 of the Criminal Code of Canada (The Globe 6). Furthermore, he contended that the provisions of sub-section 6 of the Canada Evidence Act was violated by the Crown prosecutor, stating to the jury that “all evidence was given by the Crown and that no explanation of these facts had been offered and that no explanation was possible” (6). Ultimately, the Cabinet commuted George Coppen’s death sentence to life imprisonment and on May 13th, 1920, Mr. Coppen was taken to Kingston Penitentiary to begin his life sentence (Toronto Daily Star

The war meant fewer passengers and therefore less freight. In Toronto, George Coppen was employed as a labourer at the Leaside Railway Station (Toronto Daily Star 3). The Canadian Northern Railway incorporated the Town of Leaside in 1913 and its development was historically significant because it was the first town in Ontario entirely planned on paper before any homes were built (Toronto Neighbourhood Guide 2015). Their residential development was stalled due to the outbreak of the First World War; however, it was an important contributor to the war effort. For instance, heavy artillery was manufactured at the Leaside Munitions Company and in 1918; the Leaside Airfield made Canadian aviation history as first airmail flight in Canada, traveling from Montreal to Toronto (2015). Between 1896 and 1912, two to three million people immigrated to Canada, most of them were European and white since official government policy made it almost impossible for Asians and blacks to enter (Staton 7). Racism in Canada traces back centuries; for example, section 38 of the 1910 Immigration Act allowed the government to prohibit the landing of immigrants “belonging to any race deemed unsuited to the climate or requirements of Canada, or of immigrants of any