R. v. Beals (G.L.), (2011) 311 N.S.R.(2d) 73 (PC)

• Judge: Derrick, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: November 25, 2011
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (2011), 311 N.S.R.(2d) 73 (PC);2011 NSPC 93

R. v. Beals (G.L.) (2011), 311 N.S.R.(2d) 73 (PC);

    985 A.P.R. 73

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2011] N.S.R.(2d) TBEd. DE.012

Her Majesty The Queen v. Germaine Lemar Beals

(2129346; 2011 NSPC 93)

Indexed As: R. v. Beals (G.L.)

Nova Scotia Provincial Court

Derrick, P.C.J.

December 1, 2011.

Summary:

A barbershop security camera videotape showed the accused shooting the victim in the face, then fleeing. The accused pleaded guilty to attempted murder. Neither the accused nor the victim cooperated with the police. The reason for the shooting remained unknown. The Crown sought 15-18 years' imprisonment, less one to one credit for 23 months of pre-trial custody. The accused sought a 12 year sentence, less double credit for pre-trial custody.

The Nova Scotia Provincial Court sentenced the accused to 13.5 years' imprisonment, less 46 months' credit for 23 months' pre-trial custody, leaving a net sentence to be served of nine years and seven months.

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.2

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Time already served - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5881 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5881

Sentence - Murder (incl. attempts) - In December 2009, the 25 year old accused was caught on a barber shop security camera pulling out a concealed handgun and shooting the victim in the face - The victim suffered a non-life threatening injury - His current medical condition was unknown, as neither the accused nor the victim would cooperate with the police - Accordingly, the reason for the shooting remained unknown - The accused had a criminal record, including a 2005 conviction for aggravated assault, which displayed a propensity for impulsive violence - The Crown's submission was that it could be inferred from the videotape that this was a failed "first degree" murder - The Crown sought 15-18 years' imprisonment, less one to one credit for 23 months' pre-trial custody - The accused sought a 12 year sentence, less double credit for pre-trial custody - The accused and his common law spouse had an 18 month old daughter - The accused, having no history of steady employment, was dependent upon family members for financial assistance - The Nova Scotia Provincial Court sentenced the accused to 13.5 years' imprisonment, less 46 months' credit for pre-trial custody, leaving a net sentence to be served of nine years and seven months - The court rejected the submission that this was a failed "first degree" murder - The court was not satisfied that it could be inferred that the accused was lying in wait with a premeditated plan to kill the victim - The lack of serious harm to the victim was a matter of luck, not a mitigating factor - Aggravating factors include carrying a concealed weapon, the accused's criminal record, and shooting the victim in a public place where others were present, including a child - The only mitigating factors were the guilty plea and the accused's acceptance of responsibility.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Nikolovsky (A.), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 1197; 204 N.R. 333; 96 O.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. Bryan (A.C.) (2008), 272 N.S.R.(2d) 246; 869 A.P.R. 246 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Nur (H.) et al., [2011] O.T.C. Uned. 4874 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 29].

R. v. LeBlanc (J.A.) (2011), 308 N.S.R.(2d) 150; 976 A.P.R. 150 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Marriott (A.G.), [2011] N.S.R.(2d) Uned. 250 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. M.C.S., [2010] N.S.R.(2d) Uned. 58 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Bains and Grewal (1985), 7 O.A.C. 67 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Rajanayagam (K.), [2001] O.T.C. Uned. 112 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Siu (H.K.M.) (1998), 114 B.C.A.C. 115; 186 W.A.C. 115 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Gordon (M.A.) (2009), 246 O.A.C. 239 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Logan, Logan and Johnson, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 731; 112 N.R. 144; 41 O.A.C. 330, refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Sparks (A.) et al., [2006] N.S.R.(2d) Uned. 113 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 46].

R. v. Johnston (J.C.) (2009), 280 N.S.R.(2d) 382; 891 A.P.R. 382 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 47].

R. v. Chanda, [1997] O.J. No. 6315, refd to. [para. 48].

R. v. Melanson (E.R.) (1998), 199 N.B.R.(2d) 338; 510 A.P.R. 338 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 48].

R. v. Currie (S.M.) (2002), 159 O.A.C. 290 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 48].

R. v. T.H., [2005] O.J. No. 5849, refd to. [para. 48].

R. v. Thompson (2009), 247 O.A.C. 196 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 48].

R. v. Guedez-Infante (J.A.), [2009] O.A.C. Uned. 728 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 48].

R. v. Clarke (D.D.), [2010] O.T.C. Uned. 656 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 48].

R. v. Kipp (D.N.), [2010] B.C.T.C. Uned. 584 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 48].

R. v. Sparks (A.) (2007), 251 N.S.R.(2d) 181; 802 A.P.R. 181 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 54].

R. v. D'Souza, [2004] O.J. No. 4277 (Sup. Ct.), refd. to. [para. 58].

R. v. Situ, [2006] O.J. No. 1990 (C.J.), refd to. [para. 59].

R. v. Naugle (T.L.) (2011), 302 N.S.R.(2d) 68; 955 A.P.R. 68 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 66].

R. v. Wust (L.W.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 455; 252 N.R. 332; 134 B.C.A.C. 236; 219 W.A.C. 236, refd to. [para. 75].

R. v. Tschritter (S.M.) (2006), 224 B.C.A.C. 302; 370 W.A.C. 302 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 78].

Counsel:

Shauna MacDonald and Kimberley McOnie, for the Crown;

Kevin Burke, Q.C., for the accused.

This matter was heard on November 25, 2011, at Halifax, N.S., before Derrick, P.C.J., of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment on December 1, 2011.