R. v. L.A.Y., (1995) 145 N.S.R.(2d) 87 (ProvCt)

• Judge: Sherar, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: September 26, 1995
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (1995), 145 N.S.R.(2d) 87 (ProvCt)

R. v. L.A.Y. (1995), 145 N.S.R.(2d) 87 (ProvCt);

  418 A.P.R. 87

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen v. L.A.Y.

(Case No. 543020)

Indexed As: R. v. L.A.Y.

Nova Scotia Provincial Court

Youth Court

Sherar, P.C.J.

September 26, 1995.

Summary:

A 16 year old youth was charged with having committed, in the company of an adult, first degree murder. The Crown sought a transfer to adult court.

The Nova Scotia Provincial Court granted the application.

Criminal Law - Topic 8790.1

Young offenders - Transfer out of youth court - Considerations - Protection of public and rehabilitation reconciled - A 16 year old girl was charged with first degree murder - Lengthy history of aggression, hostility and defiance - A diagnosed severe conduct disorder, requiring strict behavioral modification in a controlled environment over a long period of time - The Nova Scotia Provincial Court trans­ferred the case to the ordinary court for society's protection and the youth's re­habilitation - The court held that the five years provided under the Young Offenders Act was not adequate to deal with the case and stated that the "ordinary courts ... can fashion a sentence allowing L.Y. to be incarcerated for a period of time in a young offender facility until age 20, and then consider a transfer to an adult facility ... at the appropriate time".

Cases Noticed:

R. v. D.A.F. (1992), 133 A.R. 377 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 15].

R. v. S.H.M., [1989] 2 S.C.R. 446; 100 N.R. 1; 100 A.R. 321; 50 C.C.C.(3d) 503; [1989] 6 W.W.R. 385; 71 C.R.(3d) 257; 69 Alta. L.R.(2d) 209, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. A.C.W. (1993), 121 N.S.R.(2d) 301; 335 A.P.R. 301 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. S.J.H. (1986), 76 N.S.R.(2d) 163; 189 A.P.R. 163 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 24].

R. v. M.J.M. (1989), 89 N.S.R.(2d) 98; 227 A.P.R. 98 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

R. v. D.M. (1990), 46 O.A.C. 77; 61 C.C.C.(3d) 129 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 72].

R. v. D.U.; R. v. S.M. (1992), 134 A.R. 161 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 74].

R. v. R.J.S. (1995), 141 N.S.R.(2d) 386; 403 A.P.R. 386 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 76].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 235 [para. 2]; sect. 742.1 [para. 10].

Young Offenders Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. Y-1, sect. 3(1)(a), sect. 3(1)(b), sect. 3(1)(c) [para. 19]; sect. 5(1) [para. 5]; sect. 16(2) [para. 24]; sect. 16.2(1) [para. 12]; sect. 20(1) [para. 6]; sect. 20(1)(k.1) [para. 7].

Counsel:

Gregory Lenehan, for the prosecution;

Joel E. Pink, Q.C., for the defence.

This application was heard at Halifax, Nova Scotia, before Sherar, P.C.J., of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court, Youth Court, who delivered the following judgment on September 26, 1995.