R. v. Howse (G.), (2015) 370 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 235 (NLPC)

• Judge: Gorman, P.C.J.
• Court: Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court (Canada)
• Case Date: August 10, 2015
• Jurisdiction: Newfoundland and Labrador
• Citations: (2015), 370 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 235 (NLPC);2015 NLPC 1313

R. v. Howse (G.) (2015), 370 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 235 (NLPC);

    1153 A.P.R. 235

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. TBEd. AU.027

Her Majesty the Queen v. Glen Howse

(2015 NLPC 1313A00820)

Indexed As: R. v. Howse (G.)

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court

Gorman, P.C.J.

August 14, 2015.

Summary:

The accused pleaded guilty to breaching an undertaking and making harassing telephone calls (summary convictions).

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court sentenced the accused to a conditional discharge and 12 months' probation.

Criminal Law - Topic 4431

Procedure - Verdicts - Discharges and dismissals - Conditional discharge in lieu of conviction - The 58 year old accused pleaded guilty to breaching an undertaking and making harassing telephone calls (summary convictions) - The accused made numerous harassing telephone calls to his estranged wife - He was arrested - On September 22, 2013, he was released on an undertaking which prohibited him from contacting his wife - On September 24, 2013, he sent her an e-mail seeking a copy of their marriage certificate - Later that day he spoke to her at a store and in the parking lot of her place of employment - After the separation, the accused became depressed and felt suicidal - He attended counselling and reported significant improvements - The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court sentenced the accused to a conditional discharge and 12 months' probation - A conditional discharge was in the accused's interest and not contrary to the public interest because of his lack of prior convictions, his pursuit of counselling and the almost two year period since the commission of his offences - A condition of the probation order prohibited the accused from having any contact or communication with his wife.

Criminal Law - Topic 5723

Punishments (sentence) - Probation or probation order - Conditions - [See Criminal Law - Topic 4431 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5799.3

Punishments (sentence) - Prohibition orders - Respecting contact with victims or others - [See Criminal Law - Topic 4431 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5892

Sentence - Breach of restraining order, recognizance or undertaking - [See Criminal Law - Topic 4431 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5976

Sentence - False messages - Harassing telephone calls - [See Criminal Law - Topic 4431 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Lundrigan (D.A.) (2012), 324 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 270; 1007 A.P.R. 270; 2012 NLCA 43, refd to. [para. 7].

R. v. Knott (D.W.) (2012), 433 N.R. 38; 324 B.C.A.C. 1; 551 W.A.C. 1; 2012 SCC 42, refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. Berner (C.-A.) (2013), 337 B.C.A.C. 146; 576 W.A.C. 146; 2013 BCCA 188, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Cluney (N.) (2013), 338 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 57; 1049 A.P.R. 57; 2013 NLCA 46, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Briand (R) et al. (2010), 302 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 67; 938 A.P.R. 67; 2010 NLCA 67, refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Elsharawy (M.) (1997), 156 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 297; 483 A.P.R. 297; 119 C.C.C.(3d) 565 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Burke (J.) (1996), 141 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 282; 443 A.P.R. 282 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Edmunds (M.) (2012), 322 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 337; 1000 A.P.R. 337; 2012 NLCA 26, refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. House (S.) (2012), 324 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 278; 1007 A.P.R. 278; 2012 NLCA 41, refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Fong (P.C.) (2011), 312 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 63; 971 A.P.R. 63 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Wimbleton (T.) (2011), 313 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 68; 974 A.P.R. 68 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Brushett (J.) (2015), 362 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 285; 1125 A.P.R. 285 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Flynn (M.E.) (2015), Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 369; 1150 A.P.R. 369 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Murphy (D.) (2011), 304 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 266; 944 A.P.R. 266; 2011 NLCA 16, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Hutchings (R.) (2012), 316 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 211; 982 A.P.R. 211; 2012 NLCA 2, refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Drodge (P.J.) (2015), 360 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 262; 1118 A.P.R. 262 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. Murphy, [2005] N.J. No. 110 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 40].

R. v. Devereaux, [2007] N.J. No. 4 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 41].

R. v. Pennell (Q.) (2014), 359 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 211; 1117 A.P.R. 211 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 42].

R. v. Antle (S.J.), [2015] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. Uned. 4 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. J.B. (2013), 341 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 329; 1061 A.P.R. 329; 2013 NLCA 61, refd to. [para. 46].

R. v. McDonald (D.), [2014] O.A.C. Uned. 472; 2014 ONCA 512, refd to. [para. 48].

Counsel:

B. Duffy, for Her Majesty the Queen;

G. Martin, Q.C., for Mr. Howse.

This sentencing hearing was heard at Corner Brook, N.L., on August 10, 2015, by Gorman, P.C.J., of the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on August 14, 2015.