R. v. Galloway (R.), (2004) 247 Sask.R. 107 (QB)

• Judge: G.A. Smith, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
• Case Date: April 01, 2004
• Jurisdiction: Saskatchewan
• Citations: (2004), 247 Sask.R. 107 (QB);2004 SKQB 130

R. v. Galloway (R.) (2004), 247 Sask.R. 107 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2004] Sask.R. TBEd. AP.013

Her Majesty the Queen v. Rita Galloway

(2003 Q.B.J. No. 25; 2004 SKQB 130)

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

Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial Centre of Prince Albert

G.A. Smith, J.

April 1, 2004.

Summary:

The accused was convicted of dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm and leaving the scene of a collision with the intention of avoiding liability.

The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench sentenced the accused to a total sentence of 2.5 years' imprisonment, imposed a three year driving prohibition and ordered that she provide a DNA sample.

Criminal Law - Topic 3080

Special powers - Forensic DNA analysis - When DNA sample order available or appropriate - The accused was convicted of dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm and leaving the scene of a collision with the intention of avoiding liability - The accused had a prior conviction for impaired driving in which she tried to leave the scene (1997 offence) - The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench held that a DNA sample order was appropriate, given that the accused's conviction for leaving the scene of the collision and the circumstances of the 1997 offence - See paragraph 48.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5798

Punishments (sentence) - Prohibition orders - Respecting driving of motor vehicle - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5846.1

Sentencing - Considerations - Aboriginal offenders - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5849.13

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

Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1

Sentence - Impaired driving causing death - The 48 year old aboriginal female accused caused a motor vehicle accident which injured the other driver (cracked jaw, chipped vertebrae) and killed his passenger (age 16) - The accused exhibited dangerous driving behaviour for several kilometres prior to the collision - Her impairment by alcohol was a significant cause of the collision - She fled the scene on foot to avoid liability - Humble upbringing - Well educated - Led an exemplary life as a dedicated teacher and community activist - Disabled from teaching - Operated a farm and fishing camp with her husband - Suffered social stigma and loss of reputation - Low risk to reoffend - No acceptance of responsibility - Prior conviction for impaired driving in which she tried to leave the scene - A number of prior speeding offences including one after the collision in issue - Did not live on a reserve - The accused sought a conditional sentence - The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench considered the accused's status as an aboriginal offender but sentenced the accused to two years' imprisonment for dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, impaired driving causing death and impaired driving causing bodily harm (concurrent), six months' imprisonment (consecutive) for leaving the scene of a collision with the intention of avoiding liability and a three year driving prohibition - The court stated that, had the sentence been under two years, a conditional sentence would not have fulfilled the need for denunciation and deterrence.

Criminal Law - Topic 5865.1

Sentence - Dangerous driving causing death or bodily harm - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5866

Sentence - Leaving scene of an accident - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5886.1

Sentence - Impaired driving causing bodily harm - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Gladue (J.T.), [1999] 1 S.C.R. 688; 238 N.R. 1; 121 B.C.A.C. 161; 198 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 29].

R. v. Proulx (J.K.D.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 61; 249 N.R. 201; 142 Man.R.(2d) 161; 212 W.A.C. 161; 140 C.C.C.(3d) 449; 2000 SCC 5, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. John (J.L.), [2004] 241 Sask.R. 268; 2004 SKCA 13, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Rope, [1995] 4 C.N.L.R. 98 (Sask. C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Bhalru - see R. v. Khosa (S.S.) et al.

R. v. Khosa (S.S.) et al. (2003), 190 B.C.A.C. 42; 311 W.A.C. 42; 180 C.C.C.(3d) 225; 2003 BCCA 645 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Duchominsky (2003), 170 Man.R.(2d) 270; 285 W.A.C. 270; 171 C.C.C.(3d) 526; 2003 MBCA 19, refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. McKay (D.L.) (1997), 157 Sask.R. 168 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Shore (T.A.) (2002), 225 Sask.R. 5; 2002 SKPC 42 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Melnyk (T.D.) (1997), 156 Sask.R. 179 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Elliott (K.M.) (2001), 203 Sask.R. 217; 240 W.A.C. 217; 2001 SKCA 19, refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Krayetski (M.J.) (2003), 236 Sask.R. 317; 2003 SKPC 136, refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Decap (J.C.) (2003), 239 Sask.R. 244; 2003 SKQB 450, refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Blackwell (D.L.) (1996), 176 Sask.R. 91 (Q.B.), revd. (1999), 180 Sask.R. 102; 205 W.A.C. 102 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Keller (A.A.) (1997), 158 Sask.R. 181; 153 W.A.C. 181 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Hamel (A.) (1999), 172 Sask.R. 251; 185 W.A.C. 251 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Delaittre (C.J.D.) (1998), 164 Sask.R. 70 (Q.B.), revd. (1998), 168 Sask.R. 195; 173 W.A.C. 195 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. MacLeod (R.B.), [2004] 222 N.S.R.(2d) 56; 701 A.P.R. 56; 2004 NSCA 31, refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Lam (P.P.T.) (2003), 178 O.A.C. 275; 180 C.C.C.(3d) 127 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Boukchev (V.) (2003), 177 O.A.C. 119 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Gross (T.M.) (1999), 179 Sask.R. 280 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 44].

R. v. Trobert (G.M.) (2000), 190 Sask.R. 115; 1999 SKQB 189, affd. (2000), 199 Sask.R. 224; 232 W.A.C. 224; 2000 SKCA 113, refd to. [para. 44].

Counsel:

John W. Field, Q.C., agent for the Attorney General for the Province of Saskatchewan;

Lyle W. Zuk, for the accused.

This matter was heard before G.A. Smith, J., of the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial Centre of Prince Albert, who delivered the following decision on April 1, 2004.