R. v. Jewer (C.M.), (2015) 369 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 30 (NLPC)

• Judge: Gorman, P.C.J.
• Court: Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court (Canada)
• Case Date: August 20, 2015
• Jurisdiction: Newfoundland and Labrador
• Citations: (2015), 369 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 30 (NLPC);2015 NLPC 1314

R. v. Jewer (C.M.) (2015), 369 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 30 (NLPC);

    1150 A.P.R. 30

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. TBEd. AU.034

Her Majesty the Queen v. Clark Murdock Jewer

(2015 NLPC 1314A00175)

Indexed As: R. v. Jewer (C.M.)

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court

Gorman, P.C.J.

August 24, 2015.

Summary:

The accused was charged with assault, uttering a threat and causing a disturbance. At trial, he conceded that the Crown had proven the assault, but not the manner in which it was committed, and the threat.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court, in a decision reported at (2015), 369 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 20; 1150 A.P.R. 20, found the accused not guilty of causing a disturbance. The assault consisted of the accused shoving the victim, rather than punching him. Sentencing proceeded for the assault and uttering a threat offences and for a breach of probation committed by the accused prior to the assault.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court suspended the passing of sentence and placed the accused on probation for 12 months. The court also imposed a $100 victim surcharge.

Criminal Law - Topic 5627

Punishments (sentence) - Fines, penalties and compensation orders - Victim fine surcharge - The 51 year old accused was drunk in a bar - He shoved the victim, who was sitting nearby - The victim beat the accused - When the accused stood up, he said, "I'll kill you tomorrow" to the victim - The accused was convicted of assault and uttering a threat - He had also committed a breach of probation prior to the assault - At issue was sentencing - The accused had a history of alcohol and substance abuse - His criminal record began in 1982 and included 35 convictions, including convictions for assault, uttering a threat and breach of probation - The last sentence was in 2011 - The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court suspended the passing of sentence and placed the accused on probation for 12 months - The court also imposed a $100 victim surcharge - The breach of probation was of concern, but that offence took place 2.5 years previously - The assault and threat were both "of a relatively minor nature" - Despite the accused's criminal record, there was a reasonable alternative to a period of imprisonment.

Criminal Law - Topic 5704

Punishments (sentence) - Suspended sentence - Circumstances when appropriate - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5627 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5842

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Previous criminal offences - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5627 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5861

Sentence - Assault (incl. common assault) - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5627 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5895

Sentence - Threats - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5627 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5898

Sentence - Breach of probation - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5627 ].

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. 13].

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. 18].

R. v. Berner (C.-A.) (2013), 337 B.C.A.C. 146; 576 W.A.C. 146; 2013 BCCA 188, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Klemenz (G.) (2015), 465 Sask.R. 134; 649 W.A.C. 134; 2015 SKCA 89, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Cluney (N.) (2013), 338 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 57; 1049 A.P.R. 57; 2013 NLCA 46, refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. Briand (R.) et al. (2010), 302 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 67; 938 A.P.R. 67 (N.L.C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].

R. v. George (J.T.) (2014), 347 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 340; 1080 A.P.R. 340 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Safi (J.) (2015), 366 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 88; 1144 A.P.R. 88 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. Norman, [2011] N.J. No. 214 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 29].

R. v. Squires (P.J.) (2012), 320 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 39; 993 A.P.R. 39; 2012 NLCA 20, refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Conway (W.S.) (2014), 348 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 354; 1082 A.P.R. 354 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Reid (W.) - see R. v. Conway (W.S.).

R. v. Young (B.M.) (2014), 362 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 218; 1125 A.P.R. 218 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 32].

R. v. Hann (B.-J.) (2015), 364 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 267; 1136 A.P.R. 267 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Antle (S.J.), [2015] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. Uned. 4 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Joseph (P.M.) (2015), 369 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 39; 1150 A.P.R. 39 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. L.H.B. (2006), 257 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 307; 776 A.P.R. 307 (N.L.T.D.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Janes (K.L.) (1999), 170 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 269; 522 A.P.R. 269 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Hann, [2015] N.J. No. 91 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Hare (P.N.) (2014), 352 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 204; 1097 A.P.R. 204 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Laing (M.) (2013), 342 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 340; 1064 A.P.R. 340 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. K.C. (2014), 350 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 106; 1088 A.P.R. 106 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Lewis (M.P.) (2002), 212 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 145; 637 A.P.R. 145 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. H.J.P. (1995), 133 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 20; 413 A.P.R. 20 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Ryan (W.J.) (2006), 261 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 326; 790 A.P.R. 326 (N.L.T.D.), refd to. [para. 36].

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. 36].

R. v. Sheppard (T.R.) (2003), 220 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 299; 657 A.P.R. 299 (N.L.C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Savchenko (R.) (2000), 191 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 225; 577 A.P.R. 225 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Stacey, [2010] N.J. No. 55 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Freake (J.) (2012), 318 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 305; 989 A.P.R. 305; 2012 NLCA 10, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Young (G.L.) (2012), 323 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 328;1004 A.P.R. 328 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. C.M. (2013), 339 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 14; 1054 A.P.R. 14; 2013 NLTD(G) 108, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Bennett (D.S.) (2013), 334 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 201; 1037 A.P.R. 201 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Cormier (G.) (2005), 245 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 271; 730 A.P.R. 271 (N.L.T.D.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Rowbottom, [2006] N.J. No. 31 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Eveleigh (R.W.), 2007 CanLII 52003 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Hollett (L.J.) (2014), 349 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 161; 1085 A.P.R. 161 (N.L. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Pumphrey (E.R.) (1995), 127 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 286; 396 A.P.R. 286 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. J.R.B., [2004] N.J. No. 101 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Hunt (N.R.) (2007), 273 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 308; 833 A.P.R. 308 (N.L.T.D.), refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Murphy (D.) (2011), 304 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 266; 944 A.P.R. 266 (N.L.C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Hutchings (R.) (2012), 316 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 211; 982 A.P.R. 211; 2012 NLCA 2, refd to. [para. 38].

Counsel:

K. Pike, for Her Majesty the Queen;

G. Kearney, Q.C., for Mr. Jewer.

This matter was heard at Corner Brook, N.L., on August 20, 2015, by Gorman, P.C.J., of the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment on August 24, 2015.