R. v. Constant (K.C.), (2014) 426 N.B.R.(2d) 332 (TD)

• Judge: Clendening, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: October 21, 2014
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (2014), 426 N.B.R.(2d) 332 (TD);2014 NBQB 232

R. v. Constant (K.C.) (2014), 426 N.B.R.(2d) 332 (TD);

    426 R.N.-B.(2e) 332; 1110 A.P.R. 332

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Temp. Cite: [2014] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. OC.013

Renvoi temp.: [2014] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. OC.013

Her Majesty the Queen (plaintiff) v. Kelvin Colburn Constant (defendant)

(F-CR-1-2014; 2014 NBQB 232; 2014 NBBR 232)

Indexed As: R. v. Constant (K.C.)

Répertorié: R. v. Constant (K.C.)

New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench

Trial Division

Judicial District of Fredericton

Clendening, J.

October 21, 2014.

Summary:

Résumé:

The accused pled guilty to manslaughter contrary to s. 234 of the Criminal Code.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, sentenced the accused to five years' imprisonment less 12 months credit for time served.

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.2

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Time already served - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5882 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5882

Sentence - Manslaughter - The accused went to a club for an evening of celebration with Salas and others - At the end of the evening, the accused and two individuals left in one vehicle while Salas and others left in a second vehicle - The Salas vehicle followed the accused's vehicle - When they arrived at their destination, the accused and Salas got into an argument and exchanged punches - The accused fatally stabbed Salas - The accused was charged with second degree murder and pled guilty to the included offence of manslaughter - The 35 year old accused had no criminal record and this behaviour was totally out of character for him - This was a serious offence - He had used extreme violence in a grossly exaggerated response - The weapon used (a knife) was an aggravating factor - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, sentenced the accused to five years' imprisonment - There was nothing that precluded the court from giving enhanced credit for time served under s. 719(3.1) of the Criminal Code - The circumstances leading to credit for time on remand did not need to be exceptional or unique - Accordingly, the court gave the accused credit on a basis of 1.5:1 for the eight months spent on remand (totalling 12 months credit for time served).

Droit criminel - Cote 5848.2

Détermination de la peine - Facteurs considérés lors de l'infliction de la peine - Période déjà purgée - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 5848.2 ].

Droit criminel - Cote 5882

Peine - Homicide involontaire - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 5882 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Isenor (B.) (2007), 263 N.S.R.(2d) 22; 843 A.P.R. 22; 2007 NSPC 70, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Donovan (B.) (2004), 272 N.B.R.(2d) 279; 715 A.P.R. 279; 2004 NBCA 55, dist. [para. 30].

R. v. Simonson (1982), 43 N.B.R.(2d) 617; 113 A.P.R. 617 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Doyle (T.) (1992), 127 N.B.R.(2d) 251; 319 A.P.R. 251 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Cascisa (T.J.) (2001), 160 Man.R.(2d) 94; 262 W.A.C. 94; 2001 MBCA 168, refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. LeBlanc (M.R.) (1995), 159 N.B.R.(2d) 36; 409 A.P.R. 36 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. MacDonald (G.) (1990), 110 N.B.R.(2d) 75; 276 A.P.R. 75 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. Brooks (K.R.) (2007), 321 N.B.R.(2d) 371; 827 A.P.R. 371 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. Halkett (A.I.) (2013), 412 Sask.R. 304 (Q.B.), dist. [para. 35].

R. v. Hickey (D.P.) (2011), 303 N.S.R.(2d) 173; 957 A.P.R. 173; 2011 NSSC 186, refd to. [para. 39].

R. v. Summers (S.) (2014), 456 N.R. 1; 316 O.A.C. 349; 2014 SCC 26, refd to. [para. 40].

Counsel:

Avocats:

Hilary J.A. Drain, Q.C., and Rodney Jordan, for the Crown;

Edward L. Derrah and Ben Reentovich, for the defendant.

This case was heard on October 21, 2014, by Clendening, J., of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, Judicial District of Fredericton, who delivered the following decision orally on October 21, 2014.