R. v. Nightingale (D.P.), (2007) 431 A.R. 202 (PC)

• Judge: Brown, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: June 11, 2007
• Citations: (2007), 431 A.R. 202 (PC);2007 ABPC 210

R. v. Nightingale (D.P.) (2007), 431 A.R. 202 (PC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2008] A.R. TBEd. JA.047

Her Majesty The Queen v. Delaine Peter Nightingale (060637287P101001; 060637287P101002; 2007 ABPC 210)

Indexed As: R. v. Nightingale (D.P.)

Alberta Provincial Court

Brown, P.C.J.

July 26, 2007.

Summary:

The 19 year old accused pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death and impaired driving causing bodily harm.

The Alberta Provincial Court sentenced the accused to concurrent conditional sentences of two years less a day, followed by three years' probation, including 240 hours of community service, plus a five year driving prohibition.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5834.7

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Mental illness or disorder - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1

Sentence - Impaired driving causing death - The 19 year old accused spent an hour drinking with three strangers - All got into the accused's vehicle - The accused was speeding, went through a T intersection and flipped the vehicle - One passenger was injured and one died - The accused pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death and impaired driving causing bodily harm - The accused had no criminal or driving record, was remorseful, was employed and had strong family support - He abided by the terms of his interim release, had a positive pre-sentence report and was assessed as a low risk to re-offend - He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was amenable to treatment - The Crown sought 2-4 years' imprisonment - The accused sought a conditional sentence - The Alberta Provincial Court sentenced the accused to concurrent conditional sentences of two years less a day, followed by three years' probation, including 240 hours of community service, plus a five year driving prohibition - The court stated that "a unique factor in [the accused's] sentencing is his recent diagnosis of schizophrenia. It is evident that excessive consumption of alcohol combined with an untreated schizophrenic condition led to dangerous and tragic results." - The prime focus of the conditional sentence was to be the treatment of the accused's schizophrenia to ensure protection of the public.

Criminal Law - Topic 5886.1

Sentence - Impaired driving causing bodily harm - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Rhyason (B.P.) (2007), 404 A.R. 191; 394 W.A.C. 191; 45 M.V.R.(5th) 5 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. McCormick (A.E.) (2006), 401 A.R. 119; 391 W.A.C. 119; 216 C.C.C.(3d) 437 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Gross (L.A.) (2006), 413 A.R. 341; 45 M.V.R.(5th) 180 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. McKinley (M.E.K.) (2006), 403 A.R. 188 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Zayezierski (T.J.), [2006] A.R. Uned. 431 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Recabarren (J.) (2006), 402 A.R. 143 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Young, [2006] A.J. No. 1205 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Baker (M.J.C.), [2005] A.R. Uned. 846 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Langtry, [2005] A.J. No. 1615 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Jenkins, [2004] A.J. No. 1631 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Gratton (A.L.) (2003), 356 A.R. 334 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Singh (2004), 6 M.V.R.(5th) 239 (B.C. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Joly (2004), 23 M.V.R.(5th) 245 (Ont. C.J.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Khosa (S.S.) et al. (2003), 190 B.C.A.C. 42; 311 W.A.C. 42; 180 C.C.C.(3d) 225 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Williams (J.S.) (2003), 330 A.R. 178; 299 W.A.C. 178 (C.A.), affing. (2003), 335 A.R. 310; 44 M.V.R.(4th) 138 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Page (D.J.) (2003), 330 A.R. 192; 299 W.A.C. 192 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Iftody (T.L.) (2003), 326 A.R. 358 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Sand (C.J.) (2002), 317 A.R. 328; 284 W.A.C. 328 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Vijay (D.) (2002), 324 A.R. 320 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Kyle (C.G.) (2001), 291 A.R. 201 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Perez (J.C.) (2001), 285 A.R. 336 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Elliott (K.M.) (2001), 203 Sask.R. 217; 240 W.A.C. 217 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Thornton (J.D.), [2000] B.C.T.C. 760; 6 M.V.R.(4th) 127 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Proulx (J.K.D.) (2000), 249 N.R. 201; 142 Man.R.(2d) 161; 212 W.A.C. 161; 140 C.C.C.(3d) 449 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Larson (J.D.) (1999), 250 A.R. 147; 213 W.A.C. 147 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Tonka (B.E.) (1999), 228 A.R. 388; 188 W.A.C. 388 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Engelhardt (N.J.) (1999), 228 A.R. 337; 188 W.A.C. 337 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Grouette (M.L.A.) (1998), 222 A.R. 383 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Reed (R.R.) (1998), 107 B.C.A.C. 50; 174 W.A.C. 50; 34 M.V.R.(3d) 20 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Pawa (J.L.) (1998), 106 B.C.A.C. 296; 172 W.A.C. 296 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Balasingham (1998), 32 M.V.R.(3d) 31 (Ont. C.J.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Russell (C.L.) (1997), 209 A.R. 168; 160 W.A.C. 168 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. McKay (D.L.) (1997), 157 Sask.R. 168 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Parker (R.D.R.) (1997), 159 N.S.R.(2d) 166; 468 A.P.R. 166; 116 C.C.C.(3d) 236 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Orton (S.) (1997), 200 A.R. 313; 146 W.A.C. 313 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Lokanc, [1996] A.J. No. 1191 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Osborne (G.A.) (1996), 181 A.R. 318; 116 W.A.C. 318 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Stewart (M.R.) (1993), 145 A.R. 37; 55 W.A.C. 37 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Paciocco, David, and Roberts, Julian, Sentencing in Cases of Impaired Driving Causing Bodily Harm or Impaired Driving Causing Death (2005), generally [para. 15].

Counsel:

I. Kuklicz, for the Crown;

N.W. D'Souza, for the accused.

This matter was heard on January 26, May 9 and June 11, 2007, at Calgary, Alberta, before Brown, P.C.J., of the Alberta Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment on July 26, 2007.