R. v. M.B., (2015) 608 A.R. 302 (QB)
| Judge | Macklin, J. |
| Court | Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada) |
| Case Date | March 02, 2015 |
| Citations | (2015), 608 A.R. 302 (QB);2015 ABQB 156 |
R. v. M.B. (2015), 608 A.R. 302 (QB)
MLB headnote and full text
Temp. Cite: [2015] A.R. TBEd. MR.101
Her Majesty the Queen v. M.B. (130577737Q1; 2015 ABQB 156)
Indexed As: R. v. M.B.
Alberta Court of Queen's Bench
Judicial District of Edmonton
Macklin, J.
March 6, 2015.
Summary:
Two and a half year old twin girls were physically abused, extremely malnourished and in need of medical intervention for an extended period of time. One girl died and the other survived. The accused mother pleaded guilty to manslaughter, aggravated assault and two counts of failing to provide the girls with the necessaries of life. The Crown sought a global sentence of 23-25 years' imprisonment. The accused sought 7.5-16 years' imprisonment.
The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench sentenced the accused to 15 years' imprisonment for manslaughter and 10 years' imprisonment (concurrent) for aggravated assault. The necessaries of life convictions were stayed under the Kienapple principle. The court dismissed the Crown's application under s. 743.6 of the Criminal Code for parole ineligibility until the accused served at least one-half of her sentence. The accused was given 49.5 months' credit for 33 months' pre-trial custody on a 1.5 to 1.0 basis.
Criminal Law - Topic 5670
Punishments (sentence) - Imprisonment and parole - Parole - Period of ineligibility - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5882 ].
Criminal Law - Topic 5833.1
Sentencing - Considerations - Child abuse - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5882 ].
Criminal Law - Topic 5848.2
Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Time already served (incl. bail) - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5882 ].
Criminal Law - Topic 5882
Sentence - Manslaughter - Two and a half year old twin girls were physically abused, extremely malnourished and in need of medical intervention for an extended period of time - The 37 year old accused mother, an immigrant from Algeria, took steps to hide their condition - Finally, the father called 911 - One girl died and the other survived - The girls suffered greatly over a significant period of time - The accused pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault - Two counts of failing to provide the girls with the necessaries of life were stayed (Kienapple) - Due to the accused's non-cooperation with an examining psychiatrist, the accused's personal circumstances and her behaviour leading up to the abuse were largely unexplained - At best, it could be speculated that the accused was depressed due to cultural changes and the isolation in moving to Canada, and overwhelmed by the demands of caring for two young children - This was an egregious breach of trust respecting two defenceless and vulnerable children - The Crown sought a global sentence of 23-25 years' imprisonment - The accused sought 7.5-16 years' imprisonment - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench sentenced the accused to 15 years' imprisonment for manslaughter and 10 years' imprisonment (concurrent) for aggravated assault (same sentences imposed on the father) - The court dismissed the Crown's application under s. 743.6 of the Criminal Code for parole ineligibility until the accused served at least one-half of her sentence - The accused was given 49.5 months' credit for 33 months' pre-trial custody on a 1.5 to 1.0 basis - See paragraphs 44 to 107.
Criminal Law - Topic 5938
Sentence - Aggravated assault - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5882 ].
Cases Noticed:
Director of Child, Youth and Family Enhancement (Alta.) v. D.L. et al. (2012), 547 A.R. 390; 2012 ABQB 562, affd. (2012), 536 A.R. 207; 559 W.A.C. 207; 2012 ABCA 275, leave to appeal denied (2013), 469 N.R. 394 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 6].
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. 16].
R. v. Pham - see R. v. Ly (T.Q.).
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. 16].
R. v. Fujii (R.) (2002), 323 A.R. 261; 2002 ABQB 805, refd to. [para. 18].
R. v. Bandesha (B.S.) (2013), 556 A.R. 1; 584 W.A.C. 1; 2013 ABCA 255, refd to. [para. 20].
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. 21].
R. v. Holloway (P.S.) (2014), 572 A.R. 121; 609 W.A.C. 121; 2014 ABCA 87, refd to. [para. 22].
R. v. Lee (C.J.) (2012), 524 A.R. 22; 545 W.A.C. 22; 2012 ABCA 17, refd to. [para. 22].
R. v. B.B. (2009), 247 O.A.C. 37; 93 O.R.(3d) 643; 2009 ONCA 114, refd to. [para. 22].
R. v. Batisse - see R. v. B.B.
R. v. Nottebrock (A.K.) (2014), 589 A.R. 332; 2014 CarswellAlta 880; 2014 ABQB 318, refd to. [para. 23].
R. v. Kienapple, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 729; 1 N.R. 322; 15 C.C.C.(2d) 524, refd to. [para. 23].
R. v. Prince, [1986] 2 S.C.R. 480; 70 N.R. 119; 45 Man.R.(2d) 93; 1986 CarswellMan 357, refd to. [para. 23].
R. v. J.F., [2008] 3 S.C.R. 215; 380 N.R. 325; 242 O.A.C. 338; 2008 SCC 60, refd to. [para. 24].
R. v. Tremblay (M.D.), [2013] B.C.T.C. Uned. 816; 2013 BCSC 816, refd to. [para. 24].
R v Kirby, 2004 NWTSC 68, refd to. [para. 24].
R. v. Laberge (K.K.) (1995), 165 A.R. 375; 89 W.A.C. 375 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].
R. v. Alexander (M.), [2011] O.T.C. Uned. 6839; 111 W.C.B.(2d) 416; 2011 ONSC 6839, refd to. [para. 35].
R. v. Lavoie, [1987] A.W.L.D. 1120; 78 A.R. 327 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].
R. v. Choy (L.) (2013), 561 A.R. 99; 594 W.A.C. 99; 2013 ABCA 334, refd to. [para. 37].
R. v. S.J.B. (2013), 544 A.R. 342; 567 W.A.C. 342; 2013 ABCA 153, refd to. [para. 38].
R. v. S.D.C. (2013), 556 A.R. 27; 584 W.A.C. 27; 2013 ABCA 46, refd to. [para. 39].
R. v. Bottineau (E.) et al. (2011), 276 O.A.C. 173; 2011 ONCA 194, refd to. [para. 40].
R. v. S.S.M. (2013), 553 A.R. 339; 583 W.A.C. 339; 2013 ABCA 234, refd to. [para. 41].
R. v. Paul, [1982] 1 S.C.R. 621; 42 N.R. 1; 67 C.C.C.(2d) 97, refd to. [para. 93].
R. v. Osachie (1973), 6 N.S.R.(2d) 524 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 93].
R. v. Innerebner (T.L.) (2010), 496 A.R. 196; 2010 ABQB 188, refd to. [para. 94].
R. v. Summers (S.), [2014] 1 S.C.R. 575; 456 N.R. 1; 316 O.A.C. 349, refd to. [para. 100].
R. v. Carvery (L.A.), [2014] 1 S.C.R. 605; 456 N.R. 35; 343 N.S.R.(2d) 393; 1084 A.P.R. 393; 2014 SCC 27, refd to. [para. 100].
R. v. Calliou (J.A.) (2014), 575 A.R. 86; 612 W.A.C. 86; 2014 ABCA 158, refd to. [para. 100].
R. v. Zinck (T.R.), [2003] 1 S.C.R. 41; 300 N.R. 201; 257 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 674 A.P.R. 1; 2003 SCC 6, refd to. [para. 103].
R. v. Hanley (K.A.) et al. (1998), 228 A.R. 291; 188 W.A.C. 291; 1999 ABCA 27, refd to. [para. 105].
Counsel:
Shelley Bykewich and Danielle Green, for the Crown;
Daryl J. Royer, for the accused.
This matter was heard on March 2, 2015, before Macklin, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following judgment on March 6, 2015.
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