R. v. Datt (R.), (2014) 364 B.C.A.C. 159 (CA)

• Judge: D. Smith, Garson and Stromberg-Stein, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
• Case Date: December 12, 2014
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: (2014), 364 B.C.A.C. 159 (CA);2014 BCCA 484

R. v. Datt (R.) (2014), 364 B.C.A.C. 159 (CA);

    625 W.A.C. 159

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2014] B.C.A.C. TBEd. DE.026

Regina (respondent) v. Raj Datt (appellant)

(CA041815; 2014 BCCA 484)

Indexed As: R. v. Datt (R.)

British Columbia Court of Appeal

D. Smith, Garson and Stromberg-Stein, JJ.A.

December 12, 2014.

Summary:

The 56 year old accused suffered significant head injuries that left him with cognitive impairments and behavioural and mental health issues. He began to self-medicate with drugs. While in a residential addiction recovery home, and doing well, the accused was recruited by the owner to be a courier/low level dealer for a large drug trafficking operation. The accused, who received no financial benefit, relapsed. The accused pleaded guilty to trafficking in controlled substances (cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines). In the two year period awaiting sentencing, the accused resided at a legitimate recovery home, where he maintained his sobriety. The Crown sought a sentence of two years less a day. The accused sought a conditional sentence.

The British Columbia Provincial Court sentenced the accused to 18 months' imprisonment. The accused appealed, arguing that the trial judge erred in overemphasizing denunciation and deterrence without proper consideration of rehabilitation and the unique circumstances of the case, including the accused's recruitment and recovery from his addiction.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal, Stromberg-Stein, J.A., dissenting, allowed the appeal and substituted an 18 month conditional sentence.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - See paragraphs 43 to 101.

Criminal Law - Topic 5830.8

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Drug and narcotic offences - See paragraphs 43 to 101.

Criminal Law - Topic 5832

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Rehabilitation - See paragraphs 43 to 101.

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.7

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Denunciation or repudiation of conduct - See paragraphs 43 to 101.

Criminal Law - Topic 5849.16

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Addicts - See paragraphs 43 to 101.

Criminal Law - Topic 5850

Sentence - Trafficking in a narcotic or a controlled drug or substance (incl. possession for the purpose of trafficking) - See paragraphs 43 to 101.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Adiwal (M.S.) (2014), 361 B.C.A.C. 279; 619 W.A.C. 279; 2014 BCCA 379, refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Schoenhals (F.J.) (2008), 259 B.C.A.C. 268; 436 W.A.C. 268; 2008 BCCA 380, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Lloyd (J.R.) (2014), 356 B.C.A.C. 275; 610 W.A.C. 275; 2014 BCCA 224, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Farnsworth (I.C.) (2000), 149 B.C.A.C. 85; 244 W.A.C. 85; 2000 BCCA 678, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Tran (P.) (2007), 245 B.C.A.C. 171; 405 W.A.C. 171; 2007 BCCA 405, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Cook (K.) et al. (2001), 154 B.C.A.C. 173; 252 W.A.C. 173; 2001 BCCA 225, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Furey (D.B.) (2007), 245 B.C.A.C. 67; 405 W.A.C. 67; 2007 BCCA 395, refd to. [para. 20].

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. 22].

R. v. Francis (C.A.) (2008), 258 B.C.A.C. 80; 434 W.A.C. 80; 2008 BCCA 309, refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. Rastgoei (P.) (2008), 256 B.C.A.C. 267; 431 W.A.C. 267; 2008 BCCA 242, refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. L.M. (2008), 374 N.R. 351; 2008 SCC 31, refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Valentini (D.) et al. (1999), 118 O.A.C. 1; 132 C.C.C.(3d) 262; 43 O.R.(3d) 178 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Holder (A.) (1998), 84 O.T.C. 161; 21 C.R.(5th) 277 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Johnston (W.G.), [2003] O.T.C. 939; 59 W.C.B.(2d) 575 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. Proulx (J.K.D.) (2000), 249 N.R. 201; 142 Man.R.(2d) 161; 212 W.A.C. 161; 2000 SCC 5, refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Kreutziger (W.D.) (2005), 212 B.C.A.C. 32; 350 W.A.C. 32; 2005 BCCA 231, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Nesbitt (N.L.) (2012), 322 B.C.A.C. 249; 549 W.A.C. 249; 2012 BCCA 243, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Henry (K.R.) (2002), 174 B.C.A.C. 238; 286 W.A.C. 238; 2002 BCCA 575, refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Lévesque (R.) (2000), 260 N.R. 165; 2000 SCC 47, refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Jimmie (F.M.R.) (2009), 270 B.C.A.C. 301; 454 W.A.C. 301; 2009 BCCA 215, refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Nasogaluak (L.M.) (2010), 398 N.R. 107; 474 A.R. 88; 479 W.A.C. 88; 2010 SCC 6, refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Allen (W.R.) (2012), 327 B.C.A.C. 236; 556 W.A.C. 236; 2012 BCCA 377, refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Ipeelee (M.) (2012), 428 N.R. 1; 288 O.A.C. 224; 318 B.C.A.C. 1; 541 W.A.C. 1; 2012 SCC 13, refd to. [para. 68].

R. v. Pettigrew (1990), 56 C.C.C.(3d) 390 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 70].

R. v. Preston (1990), 47 B.C.L.R.(2d) 273 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 71].

R. v. Arsenault (R.J.) (2004), 202 B.C.A.C. 151; 331 W.A.C. 151; 2004 BCCA 401, refd to. [para. 73].

R. v. Bergen (B.A.) (1996), 72 B.C.A.C. 304; 119 W.A.C. 304 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 73].

R. v. Bay (B.B.), [2011] B.C.A.C. Uned. 104; 2011 BCCA 297, refd to. [para. 74].

R. v. Glickman (D.) (2011), 307 B.C.A.C. 181; 519 W.A.C. 181; 2011 BCCA 293, refd to. [para. 75].

R. v. Hansen (J.L.) (2012), 320 B.C.A.C. 40; 543 W.A.C. 40; 2012 BCCA 142, refd to. [para. 76].

R. v. Cisneros (P.A.) (2014), 354 B.C.A.C. 82; 605 W.A.C. 82; 2014 BCCA 154, refd to. [para. 94].

R. v. Nguyen (T.T.) (1998), 113 B.C.A.C. 56; 184 W.A.C. 56 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 95].

R. v. Kozma (P.S.) (2000), 142 B.C.A.C. 195; 233 W.A.C. 195; 2000 BCCA 440, refd to. [para. 95].

R. v. Lindley (F.) (2006), 229 B.C.A.C. 307; 379 W.A.C. 307; 2006 BCCA 380, refd to. [para. 95].

R. v. Amhaz (H.A.) (2013), 341 B.C.A.C. 139; 582 W.A.C. 139; 2013 BCCA 348, refd to. [para. 95].

R. v. Kerr (J.W.) (2001), 153 O.A.C. 159 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 95].

Counsel:

R. Vachon, for the appellant;

P. Riley, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard on October 3, 2014, at Vancouver, B.C., before D. Smith, Garson and Stromberg-Stein, JJ.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal.

On December 12, 2014, the judgment of the Court was delivered and the following opinions were filed:

Stomberg-Stein, J.A., dissenting - see paragraphs 1 to 42;

D. Smith, J.A. - see paragraphs 43 to 87;

Garson, J.A. - see paragraphs 88 to 101.