R. v. Day (H.A.), (2015) 436 N.B.R.(2d) 131 (PC)

• Judge: McLean, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: January 13, 2015
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (2015), 436 N.B.R.(2d) 131 (PC);2015 NBPC 5

R. v. Day (H.A.) (2015), 436 N.B.R.(2d) 131 (PC);

    436 R.N.-B.(2e) 131; 1139 A.P.R. 131

MLB headnote and full text

Sommaire et texte intégral

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

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Temp. Cite: [2015] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. JN.017

Renvoi temp.: [2015] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. JN.017

Her Majesty the Queen v. Holly Ann Day

(03935207; 2015 NBPC 5; 2015 NBCP 5)

Indexed As: R. v. Day (H.A.)

Répertorié: R. v. Day (H.A.)

New Brunswick Provincial Court

McLean, P.C.J.

February 12, 2015.

Summary:

Résumé:

The accused pled guilty to driving while having an excessive blood alcohol content. A charge of impaired driving was adjourned. The accused applied for a conditional discharge for curative treatment under s. 255(5) of the Criminal Code.

The New Brunswick Provincial Court allowed the application. The court granted the accused a conditional discharge under s. 255(5), a probation period of 18 months and a prohibition from driving a motor vehicle for 18 months.

Criminal Law - Topic 4434

Procedure - Verdicts - Discharges and dismissals - Discharge conditional upon curative treatment - The 36 year old accused pled guilty to driving while having an excessive blood alcohol content - She was involved in a single vehicle accident - Her vehicle crossed the highway and struck a utility pole - She exhibited signs of impairment - A blood test revealed a blood-alcohol content four times the legal limit - The accused applied for a conditional discharge for curative treatment under s. 255(5) of the Criminal Code - The accused had an alcohol addiction for years and had sought treatment, including a previous attendance at a rehabilitation facility - She had remained sober for five years but relapsed, leading to this incident - The accused said that she was now better able to understand the nature of her addiction and would adhere to a sobriety plan - The New Brunswick Provincial Court allowed the application, granting the accused a conditional discharge under s. 255(5) - The court considered that (1) the accused was a first time offender; (2) she was sincere in her efforts at sobriety; (3) she was bona fide; (4) she had filed her application in a timely manner; (5) she admitted to alcohol addiction; (6) she had chosen a respectable facility; and (7) treatment was likely to be successful - The principles of general and specific deterrence would be best served by a sentence that addressed the accused's alcohol addiction and her rehabilitation with the goal that she never again operated a motor vehicle while impaired.

Criminal Law - Topic 5886

Sentence - Impaired driving - [See Criminal Law - Topic 4434 ].

Droit criminel - Cote 4434

Procédure - Verdicts - Absolutions et rejets - Absolution assortie de la condition prescrivant une cure de désintoxication - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 4434 ].

Droit criminel - Cote 5886

Peine - Conduite avec capacité affaiblie - [Voir Criminal Law - Topic 5886 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Gerrish (J.), [2004] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 8; 2004 NBPC 1, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Lawrence (M.A.) (2007), 310 N.B.R.(2d) 196; 800 A.P.R. 196; 2007 NBPC 4, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. MacCormack (W.F.) (2000), 224 N.B.R.(2d) 29; 574 A.P.R. 29 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Storr (R.L.) (1995), 174 A.R. 65; 102 W.A.C. 65 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Tompkins (A.H.) (1994), 156 N.B.R.(2d) 86; 401 A.P.R. 86 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 19].

Counsel:

Avocats:

Lindsay J. Paul, for the Crown;

Brent Dickinson, for the defendant.

This case was heard at Woodstock, N.B., on January 13, 2015, by McLean, P.C.J., of the New Brunswick Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on February 12, 2015.