"I read the news reports at the time and knew that the chances of David Peterson being convicted of assault were slim to none. The reason being that parents, teachers, and others acting in the place of parents are provided with a defence within the Criminal Code of Canada. Section 43 is one of several defences within the Criminal Code that permits the use of force in specific incidences."
"The children were in the back seat and, as noted by the Ontario provincial court judge hearing the case, "almost immediately, young Rachel started to misbehave. She started fighting with her brother" and pushed him out of the open car door. When William attempted to climb back in, Rachel slammed the door of the car on her brother's fingers. He screamed."
In summer 1994 the Peterson family were holidaying in Ontario, Canada, when David Peterson briefly left a restaurant with his two children to retrieve a gift from the car. Five-year-old Rachel pushed her toddler brother out of the open car door and slammed the car door on his fingers. David removed Rachel, placed her across the trunk, and administered a bare-bottom spanking. A bystander called police and David was charged with assault. Section 43 of the Criminal Code of Canada provides a defence allowing parents and teachers to use reasonable force for correction. The Ontario court accepted that defence and ruled in David's favor.
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