"Colour of right" is an excuse or defense for certain offences. It denotes an honest belief in a state of facts which, if it existed, would be a legal justification. In cases of theft, it refers to an honest belief or mistake regarding the ownership of property.
References
- Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, s. 322 (1) – Justice Laws
- Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, s. 429 (2) – Justice Laws
- Judges' Handbook, p. C30-5 to C30-6 by Provincial Judges' Association of BC – on-site at Vancouver Courthouse Library
- Pocket Dictionary of Canadian Law by Daphne A Dukelow – on-site at Courthouse Libraries
- Sanagan's Encyclopedia of Words and Phrases, Legal Maxims, Canada by Gerald Sanagan, John Gardner, Karen M Gardner – on-site at Courthouse Libraries