R. v. Klassen (R.J.), (1997) 95 B.C.A.C. 136 (YukCA)

• Judge: McEachern, C.J.B.C., Hinds and Braidwood, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (Yukon Territory)
• Case Date: June 27, 1997
• Jurisdiction: Yukon
• Citations: (1997), 95 B.C.A.C. 136 (YukCA)

R. v. Klassen (R.J.) (1997), 95 B.C.A.C. 136 (YukCA);

    154 W.A.C. 136

MLB headnote and full text

Temp Cite: [1997] B.C.A.C. TBEd. JL.026

Regina (appellant) v. Ralph Jake Klassen (respondent)

(CA96-YU374)

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

Yukon Court of Appeal

McEachern, C.J.B.C., Hinds and Braidwood, JJ.A.

June 27, 1997.

Summary:

The accused was charged with the second degree murder of his wife. A jury acquitted him of that charge but convicted him of manslaughter. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. The Crown appealed the sentence.

The Yukon Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

Criminal Law - Topic 5882

Sentence - Manslaughter - The accused admitted strangling his wife of 12 years in a fit of rage - Convicted of manslaughter - No alcohol or drugs involved - No prior violence in the marriage - First offender - Deep remorse - Attempted to commit suicide - Did not apply for bail, spent 15 months in presentence custody - The Yukon Court of Appeal affirmed a sen­tence of five years' imprisonment.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Williams (G.M.) (1995), 61 B.C.A.C. 6; 100 W.A.C. 6 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Stone (B.T.) (1997), 89 B.C.A.C. 139; 145 W.A.C. 139 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Shropshire (M.T.), [1995] 4 S.C.R. 227; 188 N.R. 284; 65 B.C.A.C. 37; 106 W.A.C. 37; 102 C.C.C.(3d) 193, refd to. [para. 14].

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; 105 C.C.C.(3d) 327, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. McDonnell (T.E.) (1997), 210 N.R. 241; 196 A.R. 321; 141 W.A.C. 321 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 14].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 718, sect. 718.1 [para. 17].

Counsel:

S. David Frankel, Q.C., and Donna Valgardson, for the appellant;

Edward Horembala, Q.C., and Michael Cozens, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard at Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, on May 27, 1997, before McEachern, C.J.B.C., Hinds and Braidwood, JJ.A., of the Yukon Court of Appeal.

On June 27, 1997, in Vancouver, British Columbia, the following judgment was delivered for the Court of Appeal.