 The decision overturned a ruling by the British Columbia Court of Appeal.After police seized 517 photographs of mostly young boys, as well as sexually explicit stories; John Robin Sharpe was charged on two counts of possession of child pornography, and on another two counts of possession with intent to distribute.Sharpe argued that the relevant provision of the criminal code placed an unreasonable limitation on his freedom of expression, and in a ruling the British Columbia Court of Appeal concurred; Justice Duncan Shaw ruled that the law was a "profound invasion" of the freedom of expression and right to privacy found in the "Charter".