R. v. Cooper (M.), 2007 NSSC 130

• Judge: MacDonald, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: January 23, 2007
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: 2007 NSSC 130;(2007), 255 N.S.R.(2d) 18 (SC)

R. v. Cooper (M.) (2007), 255 N.S.R.(2d) 18 (SC);

    814 A.P.R. 18

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2007] N.S.R.(2d) TBEd. MY.004

Her Majesty The Queen v. Michael Cooper

(SPHa 262390; 2007 NSSC 130)

Indexed As: R. v. Cooper (M.)

Nova Scotia Supreme Court

MacDonald, J.

February 23, 2007.

Summary:

On May 14, 2004, the accused drove while impaired, crossed the centre line and struck another vehicle. The driver and passenger in the other vehicle were killed. The accused pleaded guilty to two counts of impaired driving causing death.

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court sentenced the accused to seven years' imprisonment on each count (concurrent).

Criminal Law - Topic 5830.3

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Changes in maximum sentence available - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5836

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Deterrence - Prevalence of similar crime - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5849.13

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Drinking and driving offences - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1

Sentence - Impaired driving causing death - The highly intoxicated accused crossed the centre line, striking an oncoming vehicle and killing its two occupants, who were 19 and 20 years of age - The accused pleaded guilty to two counts of impaired driving causing death - Between 1982 and 1994, the accused had convictions for impaired driving and offences under the Motor Vehicle Act and Liquor Control Act - The accused suffered life-threatening injuries, including brain damage which left him unable to live independently - He was remorseful - The Nova Scotia Supreme Court noted the need for stiffer sentences, given Parliament's decision to increase the maximum sentence from 14 years' imprisonment to life imprisonment, and the increasing prevalence of drinking and driving and its tragic consequences - Denunciation and deterrence required "stiffer" sentences - The court sentenced the accused to concurrent sentences of seven years' imprisonment.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Grady (1971), 5 N.S.R.(2d) 264 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. MacEachern (1990), 96 N.S.R.(2d) 68; 253 A.P.R. 68 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Nickerson (S.W.) (1991), 101 N.S.R.(2d) 243; 275 A.P.R. 243 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Shand (B.D.) (1997), 158 N.S.R.(2d) 318; 466 A.P.R. 318 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Selig (T.A.) (1994), 134 N.S.R.(2d) 385; 383 A.P.R. 385 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. A.A.B. (2006), 241 N.S.R.(2d) 108; 767 A.P.R. 108 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Pushie, [1996] O.J. No. 5120 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Caron (D.T.) (2000), 195 Sask.R. 119 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Holm, [2003] O.J. No. 5385 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Wood (J.) (2005), 197 O.A.C. 43 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Mascarenhas (2002), 162 O.A.C. 331 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Mooswa, [2004] S.J. No. 851 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Sears (1983), 60 N.S.R.(2d) 267; 128 A.P.R. 267 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Ross (1985), 66 N.S.R.(2d) 287; 152 A.P.R. 287 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. McVeigh (1985), 11 O.A.C. 345; 22 C.C.C.(3d) 145 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Munroe (1986), 74 N.S.R.(2d) 2; 180 A.P.R. 2 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Brooks (1987), 79 N.S.R.(2d) 73; 196 A.P.R. 73 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Johnson (D.K.) (1996), 84 B.C.A.C. 261; 137 W.A.C. 261; 112 C.C.C.(3d) 225 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Blakeley (S.) (1998), 111 O.A.C. 144; 40 O.R.(3d) 541 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Woloshyn (J.A.) (2006), 225 B.C.A.C. 161; 371 W.A.C. 161 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Scrairie (1998), 132 C.C.C.(3d) 210 (Que. C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Forward (D.M.) (2000), 136 B.C.A.C. 274; 222 W.A.C. 274 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Proulx (J.K.D.) (2000), 249 N.R. 201; 142 Man.R.(2d) 161; 212 W.A.C. 161 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Smyth, [2004] O.J. No. 292 (C.J.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Weaver, [2003] O.J. No. 2198 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Hall (S.) (2007), 219 O.A.C. 251 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Biancofiore (1997), 103 O.A.C. 292; 119 C.C.C.(3d) 344 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 39].

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. 57].

R. v. McNeil (J.B.) (1997), 164 N.S.R.(2d) 27; 491 A.P.R. 27 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 61].

Counsel:

Robin Archibald, for the Crown;

Denise Boudreau, for the accused.

This case was heard on January 23, 2007, at Port Hawkesbury, N.S., before MacDonald, J., of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, who delivered the following judgment on February 23, 2007.