R. v. J.B., (2015) 372 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 162 (NLPC)

• Judge: Gorman, P.C.J.
• Court: Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court (Canada)
• Case Date: September 15, 2015
• Jurisdiction: Newfoundland and Labrador
• Citations: (2015), 372 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 162 (NLPC);2015 NLPC 1313

R. v. J.B. (2015), 372 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 162 (NLPC);

    1158 A.P.R. 162

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. TBEd. SE.023

Her Majesty the Queen v. J.B.

(2015 NLPC 1313A00786)

Indexed As: R. v. J.B.

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court

Gorman, P.C.J.

September 18, 2015.

Summary:

The accused pleaded guilty to assaulting the six year old child of his partner.

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

Editor's Note: Certain names in the following case have been initialized or the case otherwise edited to prevent the disclosure of identities where required by law, publication ban, Maritime Law Book's editorial policy or otherwise.

Criminal Law - Topic 3080

Special powers - Forensic DNA analysis - When DNA sample order available or appropriate - [See Criminal Law - Topic 4431 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 4431

Procedure - Verdicts - Discharges and dismissals - Conditional discharge in lieu of conviction - Approximately a month after his infant son died, the accused (B) assaulted X, the six year old child of his partner (A) - X was misbehaving - The assault consisted of B grabbing X by her upper arms, lifting her off of the floor and slamming her against the wall - As a result of the assault, the dry wall was damaged and cracked - B let X down to the floor at which point she cried and ran to her bedroom - 32 years old - Employed full-time - B resided with A, X and her brother - In addition, B and A had recently had another child - In sentencing B, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court considered that he had committed an assault against a six year old child to whom he was in a position of trust and authority - His moral culpability was extremely high - However, he did not have a criminal record, he pleaded guilty, he embraced the provision of counselling, and Child, Youth and Family Services had concluded that there was no need to remove X from his care - The evidence suggested that what occurred was an isolated incident - Further, the surrounding circumstances (death of B's infant child) had to be considered - The court sentenced the accused to a conditional discharge with 12 months' probation - In addition to the statutory conditions, B had to, inter alia, attend all counselling or treatment sessions arranged by his probation officer - The court was not satisfied that it was in the best interests of the administration of justice to issue a DNA order, nor that a weapon/prohibition order was necessary for the safety of any person or the public.

Criminal Law - Topic 5736

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

Criminal Law - Topic 5799

Punishments (sentence) - Prohibition orders - Respecting firearms, etc. - [See Criminal Law - Topic 4431 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5830.4

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Guilty plea - [See Criminal Law - Topic 4431 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5831.1

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Offences involving breach of trust - [See Criminal Law - Topic 4431 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5837

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Mitigating circumstances - [See Criminal Law - Topic 4431 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.8

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - First offence - [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. 4].

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. 4].

R. v. Nasogaluak (L.M.), [2010] 1 S.C.R. 206; 398 N.R. 107; 474 A.R. 88; 479 W.A.C. 88; 2010 SCC 6, refd to. [para. 12].

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. 13].

R. v. Allen (W.R.) (2012), 327 B.C.A.C. 236; 556 W.A.C. 236; 2012 BCCA 377, refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. Hodder (M.J.), [2010] N.J. No. 144 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. R.S.W. (2015), 364 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 113; 1136 A.P.R. 113 (NLTD(G)), refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Elsharawy (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 (Nlfd. C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Carlson (M.C.) (2011), 317 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 355; 986 A.P.R. 355 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. Edmunds (M.) (2012), 322 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 337;1000 A.P.R. 337; 2012 NLCA 26, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. House (S.) (2012), 324 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 278; 1007 A.P.R. 278; 2012 NLCA 41, refd to. [para. 29].

R. v. E.M.P. (2012), 328 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 111; 1019 A.P.R. 111 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. J.I., [2015] A.R. TBEd. SE.007; 2015 ABPC 184, refd to. [para. 31].

A.B. v. Bragg Communications Inc. et al., [2012] 2 S.C.R. 567; 434 N.R. 323; 322 N.S.R(2d) 1; 1021 A.P.R. 1; 2012 SCC 46, refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Marks (K.J.) (1994), 121 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 200; 377 A.P.R. 200; 91 C.C.C.(3d) 421 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. E.H. (2012), 326 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 235; 1012 A.P.R. 235 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. Pham - see R. v. Ly (T.Q.).

R. v. Ly (T.Q.), [2013] 1 S.C.R. 739; 441 N.R. 375; 544 A.R. 40; 567 W.A.C. 40; 2013 SCC 15, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Stone (B.T.), [1999] 2 S.C.R. 290; 239 N.R. 201; 123 B.C.A.C. 1; 201 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 37].

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. 39].

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. 42].

R. v. May (T.G.) (2012), 533 A.R. 182; 557 W.A.C. 182; 2012 ABCA 213, refd to. [para. 43].

Counsel:

B. Duffy, for Her Majesty the Queen;

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

This sentencing matter was heard at Corner Brook, N.L., on September 15, 2015, by Gorman, P.C.J., of the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court, who delivered the following decision on September 18, 2015.