R. v. Burleigh (S.R.), (2015) 373 B.C.A.C. 92 (CA)

• Judge: Neilson, Garson and Willcock, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
• Case Date: May 05, 2015
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: (2015), 373 B.C.A.C. 92 (CA);2015 BCCA 245

R. v. Burleigh (S.R.) (2015), 373 B.C.A.C. 92 (CA);

    641 W.A.C. 92

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] B.C.A.C. TBEd. JN.013

Regina (respondent) v. Stephen Ralph Burleigh (appellant)

(CA42154; 2015 BCCA 245)

Indexed As: R. v. Burleigh (S.R.)

British Columbia Court of Appeal

Neilson, Garson and Willcock, JJ.A.

June 2, 2015.

Summary:

The 48 year old accused pleaded guilty to seven counts of robbery, seven counts of using an imitation firearm while committing a robbery, three counts of having his face masked while intending to commit robbery, and one count of assault using an imitation weapon. The first six robberies occurred between April 17 and April 23, 2013. The seventh robbery occurred on April 25, 2013, and resulted in four of the charges (robbery, using an imitation firearm, having his face masked and assault).

The British Columbia Provincial Court imposed a global sentence of three years' imprisonment for the charges arising out of the first six robberies. For the counts arising out of the events on April 25, 2013, with the exception of the imitation firearms count, the court imposed a concurrent global sentence of four years' imprisonment, reduced for the pretrial custody on a 1.5:1 basis, resulting in an actual sentence of three years. The court imposed seven mandatory consecutive one year sentences for the imitation firearms counts. This resulted in an effective total sentence of 11 years and an actual sentence of 10 years' imprisonment. The accused appealed.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal allowed the appeal. The Provincial Court erred by not giving distinct consideration to the aggregate sentence after the imposition of the mandatory sentences for the imitation firearms counts. The Provincial Court also erred by giving the accused credit for pretrial custody in relation to only one of the sentences being served concurrently, thereby reducing the credit from 462 days to 365 days. An effective sentence of nine years' imprisonment was a fit sentence, reduced by one year and 6.5 months for pretrial custody, resulting in an actual sentence of seven years and 5.5 months' imprisonment.

Criminal Law - Topic 5804

Sentencing - General - Consecutive sentences - Reduced total term - Totality principle - See paragraphs 15 to 23.

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.2

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Time already served - See paragraph 40.

Criminal Law - Topic 5855

Sentence - Robbery - See paragraphs 24 to 39.

Criminal Law - Topic 5883

Sentence - Assault with a weapon or assault causing bodily harm - See paragraphs 24 to 39.

Criminal Law - Topic 5917

Sentence - Use of firearm during offence - See paragraphs 24 to 39.

Criminal Law - Topic 5935

Sentence - Disguise with intent - See paragraphs 24 to 39.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. C.A.M., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 500; 194 N.R. 321; 73 B.C.A.C. 81; 120 W.A.C. 81, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Adiwal (M.S.) (2014), 361 B.C.A.C. 279; 619 W.A.C. 279; 2014 BCCA 379, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Sangha - see R. v. Adiwal (M.S.).

R. v. Datt (R.) (2014), 364 B.C.A.C. 159; 625 W.A.C. 159; 2014 BCCA 484, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Schinkel (T.L.) (2015), 365 B.C.A.C. 269; 627 W.A.C. 269; 2015 YKCA 2, refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Joseph (C.T.) (2010), 371 B.C.A.C. 1; 636 W.A.C. 1; 2010 BCCA 525, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Stauffer (B.R.) (2007), 234 B.C.A.C. 210; 387 W.A.C. 210; 216 C.C.C.(3d) 418; 2007 BCCA 7, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Morrisey (M.L.) (No. 2), [2000] 2 S.C.R. 90; 259 N.R. 95; 187 N.S.R.(2d) 1; 585 A.P.R. 1; 2000 SCC 39, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Leggo (C.A.) (2003), 184 B.C.A.C. 150; 302 W.A.C. 150; 2003 BCCA 392, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Hanko (P.A.) (2002), 174 B.C.A.C. 67; 286 W.A.C. 67; 2002 BCCA 450, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Morris (R.L.) (2003), 182 B.C.A.C. 156; 300 W.A.C. 156; 2003 BCCA 271, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Robitaille (A.) (No. 2) (1993), 31 B.C.A.C. 7; 50 W.A.C. 7 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Thompson (J.M.) (2008), 259 B.C.A.C. 160; 436 W.A.C. 160; 2008 BCCA 350, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Ward (S.P.) (2006), 224 B.C.A.C. 73; 370 W.A.C. 73; 2006 BCCA 153, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Zahorenko (L.J.) (2004), 202 B.C.A.C. 243; 331 W.A.C. 243; 2004 BCCA 445, refd to. [para. 28].

Counsel:

E. Purtzki, for the appellant;

M.J. Brundrett, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard at Vancouver, British Columbia, on May 5, 2015, by Neilson, Garson and Willcock, JJ.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. Willcock, J.A., delivered the following reasons for judgment for the court on June 2, 2015.