R. v. M.L., (2000) 187 Sask.R. 195 (ProvCt)

• Judge: Turpel-Lafond, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Saskatchewan (Canada)
• Case Date: January 07, 2000
• Jurisdiction: Saskatchewan
• Citations: (2000), 187 Sask.R. 195 (ProvCt)

R. v. M.L. (2000), 187 Sask.R. 195 (ProvCt)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2000] Sask.R. TBEd. JA.045

Her Majesty The Queen v. M.L.

Indexed As: R. v. M.L.

Saskatchewan Provincial Court

Judicial Centre of Saskatoon

Turpel-Lafond, P.C.J.

January 7, 2000.

Summary:

A 12 year old aboriginal girl accepted responsibility for a series of arson offences. She also accepted responsibility for shop­lifting. The girl, who had fetal alcohol syn­drome, was before the Youth Court for the first time.

The Saskatchewan Provincial Court sen­tenced the girl to 45 days' open custody and two years of probation.

Criminal Law - Topic 5846.1

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Aboriginal offenders - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5867 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.3

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Medical - [See Criminal Law -Topic 5867 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5849.5

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Competency of accused - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5867 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5854

Sentence - Theft - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5867 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5867

Sentence - Arson - M.L., a 12 year old aboriginal girl, accepted responsibility for a series of arson offences and for shoplifting - There were no injuries re­sult­ing from the fires, but the property damage was significant and there was a potential for serious injury or death - M.L. had fetal alcohol syndrome and functioned at a lower intellectual level than her peers - She was from a severely deprived back­ground and her disability may have been compounded by exposure to and consump­tion of solvents - Three months spent on remand - First time before Youth Court - The Saskatchewan Provincial Court sen­tenced M.L. to 45 days' open custody and two years of probation - The first year of probation would be on intensive supervi­sion - The court stated that secure custody was not the venue for the management of a child with M.L.'s disabilities - The court also considered that in sentencing an abor­ig­inal youth, it was appropriate to consider alternatives to custodial disposi­tions.

Criminal Law - Topic 8806

Young offenders - Decisions (incl. pun­ish­ments) - Sentencing considerations - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5867 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 8814

Young offenders - Decisions (incl. pun­ish­ments) - Secure custody - [See Crimi­nal Law - Topic 5867 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 8815

Young offenders - Decisions (incl. pun­ish­ments) - Open custody - [See Crimi­nal Law - Topic 5867 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Williams, [1994] B.C.J. No. 3160 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. Steeves, [1998] B.C.J. No. 3135 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. D.E.K. (1999), 254 A.R. 159 (Prov. Ct.), consd. [para. 31].

R. v. George (T.) (1998), 109 B.C.A.C. 32; 177 W.A.C. 32 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

R. v. T.J., [1999] Y.J. No. 57 (Terr. Ct.), consd. [para. 31].

R. v. V.T. (1992), 134 N.R. 289; 7 B.C.A.C. 81; 15 W.A.C. 81; 71 C.C.C.(3d) 32 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 50].

R. v. Gladue (J.T.) (1999), 238 N.R. 1; 121 B.C.A.C. 161; 198 W.A.C. 161; 133 C.C.C.(3d) 385 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 52].

R. v. J.A.C. (1999), 138 Man.R.(2d) 226; 202 W.A.C. 226 (C.A.), consd. [para. 55].

R. v. Sam, [1993] Y.J. No. 112 (Terr. Ct.), consd. [para. 60].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Alberta, Prairie Province Conference on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Together Let's Find a Solution (May 4-7, 1999), gen­erally [para. 16].

Health Canada, It Takes a Community: A Resource Manual for Community-Based Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects (1997), gen­erally [para. 27].

Counsel:

K. Humphries and V. Adamko, for the Crown;

G. Crookshanks, for the accused.

This matter was heard before Turpel-La­fond, J., of the Saskatchewan Provincial Court, Judicial Centre of Saskatoon, who delivered the following judgment on January 7, 2000.