R. v. Houle (J.J.), (2013) 549 A.R. 281 (QB)

• Judge: Manderscheid, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: December 18, 2012
• Citations: (2013), 549 A.R. 281 (QB);2013 ABQB 70

R. v. Houle (J.J.) (2013), 549 A.R. 281 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2013] A.R. TBEd. FE.090

Her Majesty the Queen v. Joshua James Houle (120000872Q2; 2013 ABQB 70)

Indexed As: R. v. Houle (J.J.)

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Manderscheid, J.

January 29, 2013.

Summary:

The accused and his second cousin had been drinking, and possibly doing illicit drugs, before returning to the accused's residence. They had consensual sexual intercourse. The cousin fell asleep on the bed. The accused stayed awake, but later passed out on the sofa. He had warned his cousin not to abruptly wake him, as he often responded violently. When the cousin later tried to wake the accused, he reacted violently, stabbing her in the neck and severing her jugular vein. The cousin died. The accused, believing that the police would not believe what happened, panicked and decided to dismember the body for easier disposal. He severed one leg at the knee, but then stopped because he felt ill. The accused pleaded guilty to manslaughter and offering indignities to human remains.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench sentenced the accused to six years' imprisonment for manslaughter and two years' imprisonment (consecutive) for offering indignities to human remains, less one to one credit for one year and nine days' pre-trial custody.

Criminal Law - Topic 5882

Sentence - Manslaughter - The 28 year old accused and his second cousin had been drinking, and possibly doing illicit drugs, before returning to the accused's residence - They had consensual sexual intercourse - The cousin fell asleep on the bed - The accused stayed awake, but later passed out on the sofa - He had warned his cousin not to abruptly wake him, as he often responded violently - When the cousin later tried to wake the accused, he reacted by grabbing a steak knife lying near where he slept and spontaneously stabbed her once in the neck, severing her jugular vein - The cousin died - The accused, believing that the police would not believe what happened, panicked and started to dismember her body for easier disposal - After severing one leg at the knee, he stopped because he felt ill - The accused pleaded guilty to manslaughter and offering indignities to human remains - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench held that sentences for manslaughter were flexible due to the wide variety of circumstances from near murder to near accident - The three categories of moral culpability were (1) risk of bodily injury; (2) risk of serious bodily injury; and (3) risk of life-threatening injury - The accused fell in the upper reaches of the second category - Mitigating factors included remorse, the guilty plea, cooperation with authorities and the accused's immediate attempt to try to stop the bleeding - Aggravating factors included the proximity of the knife to the accused, who was aware of his violent propensities upon being awakened suddenly, the failure to call for medical or police assistance, the attempted dismemberment and the significant negative effects on the cousin's family - The court sentenced the accused to six years' imprisonment for manslaughter and two years' imprisonment (consecutive) for offering indignities to human remains, less one to one credit for one year and nine days' pre-trial custody.

Criminal Law - Topic 5955

Sentence - Dead human bodies - Offences re - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5882 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Sandercock (1985), 62 A.R. 382; 1985 ABCA 218, refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Laberge (K.K.) (1995), 165 A.R. 375; 89 W.A.C. 375; 1995 ABCA 196, refd to. [para. 6].

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; 171 D.L.R.(4th) 385, refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Ipeelee (M.), [2012] 1 S.C.R. 433; 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. 6].

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. 14].

R. v. Martineau, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 633; 112 N.R. 83; 109 A.R. 321; 58 C.C.C.(3d) 353, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Creighton, [1993] 3 S.C.R. 3; 157 N.R. 1; 65 O.A.C. 321; 105 D.L.R.(4th) 632, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. J.L.M.A. (2010), 499 A.R. 1; 514 W.A.C. 1; 2010 ABCA 363, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Arcand - see R. v. J.L.M.A.

R. v. Karim (M.A.) et al., [2012] A.R. Uned. 686; 2012 ABQB 727, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Valente (A.) (2012), 534 A.R. 385; 2012 ABQB 151, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Wharry (W.E.) (2008), 437 A.R. 148; 433 W.A.C. 148; 2008 ABCA 293, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Francis (D.B.) (2007), 255 N.S.R.(2d) 386; 814 A.P.R. 386; 2007 NSSC 184, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Asp (C.M.), [2005] Yukon Cases (SC) 58; 68 W.C.B.(2d) 424; 2005 YKSC 58, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Herman (T.A.), [2010] B.C.T.C. Uned. 1682; 2010 BCSC 1682, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Sinclair (A.R.) (2011), 517 A.R. 396; 2011 ABQB 652, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Hickey (D.P.) (2011), 303 N.S.R.(2d) 173; 957 A.P.R. 173; 2011 NSSC 186, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. An (S.), [2011] A.R. Uned. 269; 2011 ABQB 217, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Tabbara (M.J.), [2009] O.T.C. Uned. P41 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. White (W.P.) (2009), 288 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 178; 888 A.P.R. 178; 2009 NLTD 99, refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Panghali (M.S.), [2011] B.C.T.C. Uned. 421; 2011 BCSC 421, refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Commanda (D.A.) (2007), 413 A.R. 363; 2007 ABPC 51, refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Valliere (N.R.), [2005] B.C.T.C. 124; 64 W.C.B.(2d) 160; 2005 BCSC 124, refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Holly (M.I.) (1998), 105 B.C.A.C. 83; 171 W.A.C. 83; 37 W.C.B.(2d) 331 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Friday (D.L.) (2012), 541 A.R. 294; 2012 ABQB 371, refd to. [para. 60].

R. v. Hamilton (M.A.) et al. (2004), 189 O.A.C. 90; 72 O.R.(3d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 61].

R. v. B.W.P.; R. v. B.V.N., [2006] 1 S.C.R. 941; 350 N.R. 1; 227 B.C.A.C. 1; 374 W.A.C. 1; 205 Man.R.(2d) 282; 375 W.A.C. 282; 2006 SCC 27, refd to. [para. 62].

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; 2000 SCC 5, refd to. [para. 63].

R. v. Latimer (R.W.), [2001] 1 S.C.R. 3; 264 N.R. 99; 203 Sask.R. 1; 240 W.A.C. 1; 2001 SCC 1, refd to. [para .64].

R. v. K.D.H. (2012), 546 A.R. 248; 2012 ABQB 471, refd to. [para. 68].

R. v. Clayton (D.J.) (2012), 539 A.R. 326; 561 W.A.C. 326; 2012 ABCA 384, refd to. [para. 69].

R. v. Giesler (S.J.), [2012] A.R. Uned. 427; 2012 ABCA 277, refd to. [para. 69].

R. v. Place (D.K.), [2012] A.R. Uned. 207; 2012 ABCA 236, refd to. [para. 69].

R. v. Crazyboy (S.E.) (2012), 533 A.R. 371; 557 W.A.C. 371; 288 C.C.C.(3d) 459; 2012 ABCA 228, refd to. [para. 69].

R. v. May (T.G.) (2012), 533 A.R. 182; 557 W.A.C. 182; 2012 ABCA 213, refd to. [para. 69].

R. v. Elliott (S.J.), [2012] A.R. Uned. 172; 2012 ABCA 214, refd to. [para. 69].

R. v. Lemmon (J.D.) (2012), 524 A.R. 164; 545 W.A.C. 164; 2012 ABCA 103, refd to. [para. 69].

R. v. Kienapple, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 729; 1 N.R. 322; 44 D.L.R.(3d) 351, refd to. [para. 70].

Counsel:

Robert J. Beck, for the Crown;

Peter J. Royal, Q.C. (Royal Teskey Barristers), for the accused.

This matter was heard on December 18, 2012, before Manderscheid, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who imposed sentence orally on January 29, 2013, with the following written judgment filed on January 30, 2013.