Can a witness be held liable for failing to report a crime because he was not present at the crime scene?
British Columbia, Canada
The following excerpt is from R. v. Bonneau et al, 2004 BCSC 1370 (CanLII):
In Dunlop & Sylvester v. R., 1979 CanLII 20 (SCC), [1979] 2 S.C.R 881 Dickson J. held: Mere presence at the scene of a crime is not sufficient to ground culpability. Something more is needed: encouragement of the principal offender; an act which facilitates the commission of the offence, such as keeping watch or enticing the victim away, or an act which tends to prevent or hinder interference with accomplishment of the criminal act, such as preventing the intended victim from escaping or being ready to assist the prime culprit.
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