R. v. Coombs (H.W.), 2004 NLSCTD 85

• Judge: Russell, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada)
• Case Date: April 30, 2004
• Jurisdiction: Newfoundland and Labrador
• Citations: 2004 NLSCTD 85;(2004), 236 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 343 (NFTD)

R. v. Coombs (H.W.) (2004), 236 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 343 (NFTD);

    700 A.P.R. 343

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2004] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. TBEd. AP.041

Her Majesty the Queen v. Herbert William Coombs

(2003 01T 1227; 2004 NLSCTD 85)

Indexed As: R. v. Coombs (H.W.)

Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court

Trial Division

Russell, J.

April 30, 2004.

Summary:

The accused was convicted of one count of refusal to provide a breath sample and one count of dangerous driving causing death.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court, Trial Division, sentenced the accused to a $600 fine and a one year driving prohib­ition for the first count and 12 months' imprisonment and a 4 year driving prohib­ition for the second count. The court took into consideration time served and credited the accused for one month.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - The 23 year old accused was driving his ATV on the highway when he struck the victim - She died as a result of her injuries - The accused was convicted of refusing to provide a breath sample and of dangerous driving causing death - The Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court, Trial Divi­sion, refused to impose a conditional sen­tence - The accused had no previous crimi­nal record and showed remorse - However, the accused knew that his ATV was pro­hibited from being on the highway, yet ignored this - The accused knew that his brakes were disconnected and still operated the ATV on the road in conditions where visibility was poor - The accused had a poor driving record, including speeding offences before and after the incident - The court sentenced the accused to a $600 fine and a one year driving prohibition for the first count and 12 months' imprisonment and a 4 year driving prohibition for the second count - The court concluded that the principles of denunciation and deterrence were better served by a term of imprisonment - See paragraphs 76 to 99.

Criminal Law - Topic 5865.1

Sentence - Dangerous driving causing death or bodily harm - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5887

Sentence - Failure to provide a breath sample - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Woodford, [1993] N.J. No. 174 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Woodward (H.) (1993), 108 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 240; 339 A.P.R. 240 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 58, Appendix A].

R. v. Hollinsky (1995), 103 C.C.C.(3d) 472 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 59, Ap­pendix A].

R. v. Murphy (S.) (1997), 151 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 162; 471 A.P.R. 162 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 59, Appendix A].

R. v. Chan (E.) (1997), 43 O.T.C. 102; 31 M.V.R.(3d) 254 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 60, Appendix A].

R. v. Reed, [1997] B.C.T.C. Uned. 116; 31 M.V.R.(3d) 309 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 60, Appendix A].

R. v. Matchim (J.S.) (2000), 197 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 99; 591 A.P.R. 99 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 61, Appendix A].

R. v. Woo (T.) (1992), 13 B.C.A.C. 292; 24 W.A.C. 292 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Stickley (R.D.) (1993), 107 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 158; 336 A.P.R. 158 (Nfld. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Brown (J.R.) (1993), 107 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 153; 336 A.P.R. 153 (Nfld. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Mosher (R.G.) (1994), 116 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 330; 363 A.P.R. 330 (P.E.I.T.D.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Vaziri (F.) (2004), 182 O.A.C. 119 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Lam (P.P.T.) (2003), 178 O.A.C. 275 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Parker (R.D.R.) (1997), 159 N.S.R.(2d) 166; 468 A.P.R. 166 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. B.E.T., [1999] A.J. No. 80 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Sand (C.J.) (2002), 317 A.R. 328; 284 W.A.C. 328 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Russell (C.L.) (1997), 209 A.R. 168; 160 W.A.C. 168 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Sidhu (G.S.) (1998), 111 B.C.A.C. 253; 181 W.A.C. 253 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Power (J.) (1993), 113 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 140; 353 A.P.R. 140 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Shiwak (T.T.) (1997), 150 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 238; 470 A.P.R. 238 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

R. v. Proulx (J.K.D.) (2000), 249 N.R. 201; 142 Man.R.(2d) 161; 212 W.A.C. 161; 2000 CarswellMan 32 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 62, Appendix A].

Counsel:

Rachel A. Huntsman, for the Crown;

John W. Lavers and Mark Andrews, for the accused.

This case was heard at St. John's, New­foundland and Labrador, by Russell, J., of the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court, Trial Division, who delivered the following oral decision on April 30, 2004.