Uttering Threats
Defence for uttering-threats charges, including context, intent, and credibility issues.
Call 24/7 · 519-977-5407Understanding uttering threats charges
Uttering threats — to cause death or bodily harm, or to damage property — criminalizes words. Because of that, everything depends on what exactly was said, the context in which it was said, and whether the words were meant to intimidate or be taken seriously.
Many charges arise from heated arguments, breakups, or messages fired off in anger, often reported second-hand or stripped of context. The law does not criminalize venting or hyperbole — and establishing the full context is frequently the core of the defence.
How We Defend
Reconstruct the full context: what was said, to whom, and why
Contest intent — words spoken in anger or jest are not always threats in law
Obtain complete message threads, not the excerpts police were shown
Test the complainant's account and any motive to exaggerate
Resolve accompanying conditions (no-contact) that disrupt daily life
Every case turns on its own facts. Call 519-977-5407 for a confidential assessment of yours.
What To Expect
How your defence proceeds
Call — any hour
The phone is answered 24/7. If you or a family member has been arrested, the sooner we're involved, the more options you have.
Disclosure & review
We obtain the Crown's disclosure and go through it line by line — evidence, statements, procedure, and Charter issues.
Strategy
You get a straight assessment: the strengths, the risks, and the realistic paths — resolution, negotiation, or trial.
Resolution or trial
Whether it ends in a withdrawal, a negotiated outcome, or a verdict, your case is prepared as if it's going the distance.
Common Questions
Uttering Threats: what people ask us
I said it in the heat of an argument and didn't mean it.
Intent matters: the Crown must prove the words were meant to intimidate or to be taken seriously. Context — the relationship, the moment, what followed — is exactly what a court weighs, and what we put in front of the Crown.
Can a text or social media post really be a criminal threat?
Yes — threats by message are prosecuted regularly. But messages also preserve context, and the full thread often reads very differently from the excerpt in a police report.
The answers above are general information about Ontario law, not legal advice about your situation. For advice on your case, call 519-977-5407.
Related Practice Areas
Charged with an offence?
Speak with our team today about your options. The phone is answered 24 hours a day: 519-977-5407.