R. v. Nottebrock (A.K.),

• Judge: Wittmann
• Neutral Citation: 2014 ABQB 662
• Subject Matter: CRIMINAL LAW
• Citation: 2014 ABQB 662,(2014), 601 A.R. 118 (QB),601 AR 118,(2014), 601 AR 118 (QB),601 A.R. 118
• Date: 17 October 2014
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)

R. v. Nottebrock (A.K.) (2014), 601 A.R. 118 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2014] A.R. TBEd. NO.088

Her Majesty the Queen (Crown) v. Amie Kristen Nottebrock (accused)

(120208939Q1; 2014 ABQB 662)

Indexed As: R. v. Nottebrock (A.K.)

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Calgary

Wittmann, C.J.Q.B.

November 3, 2014.

Summary:

The accused was operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and while her blood alcohol level was over the legal limit. She entered an intersection on a red light and struck another motor vehicle lawfully in the intersection causing the death of that driver and the death of the accused's passenger. She was charged with two counts of impaired driving causing death (counts 1 and 2), two counts of driving while her blood alcohol level was over the legal limit causing death (counts 3 and 4), and two counts of criminal negligence causing death (counts 5 and 6).

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, in a decision reported (2014), 589 A.R. 332, convicted the accused of all counts. Having regard to the Kienapple principle, the court stayed the convictions on counts 3 and 4. The matter moved to sentencing with regard to the two counts of criminal negligence causing death and the two counts of impaired driving causing death.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench imposed a sentence of 4.5 years' imprisonment plus a five year driving prohibition.

Criminal Law - Topic 5798

Punishments (sentence) - Prohibition orders - Respecting driving of motor vehicle - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5863.1

Sentence - Criminal negligence causing death or bodily harm - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5864.1

Sentence - Impaired driving causing death - The accused drove while having a blood alcohol level over the legal limit (between .222 to.270) - She went through a red light between 135 and 145 kmph in an 80 kmph zone and struck another motor vehicle causing the death of that driver and the death of the accused's passenger - The intersection was well lit, road conditions were dry and the weather clear - The accused was convicted of two counts of criminal negligence causing death and two counts of impaired driving causing death - The accused had no prior criminal record or driving violations - Support of employer, family and friends - Extremely remorseful - Likely candidate for rehabilitation - Twenty-eight years old - 14 month old son - No alcohol or drug issues - Acknowledged responsibility - Low risk to reoffend - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench imposed a sentence of 4.5 years' imprisonment plus a five year driving prohibition.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Jacobs (1982), 39 A.R. 391 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Crow (1985), 57 A.R. 317 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. McVeigh (1985), 11 O.A.C. 345; 22 C.C.C.(3d) 145 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Bernshaw (N.), [1995] 1 S.C.R. 254; 176 N.R. 81; 53 B.C.A.C. 1; 87 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Biancofiore (N.F.) (1997), 103 O.A.C. 292; 119 C.C.C.(3d) 344 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Rhyason (B.P.) (2007), 404 A.R. 191; 394 W.A.C. 191; 2007 ABCA 119, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Stimson (K.A.) (2011), 499 A.R. 185; 514 W.A.C. 185; 2011 ABCA 59, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Kummer (A.L.) (2011), 273 O.A.C. 378; 2011 ONCA 39, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Ramage (R.) (2010), 265 O.A.C. 158; 2010 ONCA 488, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Junkert (M.) (2010), 267 O.A.C. 7; 2010 ONCA 549, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Goodstoney (C.S.) (1999), 232 A.R. 243; 195 W.A.C. 243; 1999 ABCA 110, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Hughes (B.B.) (2012), 316 B.C.A.C. 226; 537 W.A.C. 226; 2012 BCCA 87, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Luskin (R.), [2012] O.T.C. Uned. 1764; 2012 ONSC 1764, refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Brough (J.P.) (1993), 145 A.R. 70; 55 W.A.C. 70; 50 M.V.R.(2d) 107 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Recabarren (J.) (2006), 402 A.R. 143; 2006 ABPC 109, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Gross (L.A.) (2006), 413 A.R. 341; 2006 ABPC 353, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Konkolus (1988), 86 A.R. 144 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Tschetter (D.J.) (2009), 466 A.R. 239; 2009 ABPC 291, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Olsen (C.M.) (2011), 515 A.R. 76; 532 W.A.C. 76; 2011 ABCA 308, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Coupal (D.P.) (2010), 488 A.R. 139; 2010 ABQB 229, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Abraham (C.H.) (2000), 261 A.R. 192; 225 W.A.C. 192; 2000 ABCA 159, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Martin (B.), [2013] A.R. Uned. 281; 2013 ABQB 174, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Pratt (J.R.) (2014), 596 A.R. 199; 2014 ABQB 529, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Morin-Leblanc, 2014 ONSC 2056, refd to. [para. 20].

Counsel:

Jonathan W. Hak, Q.C., for the Crown;

Alain Hepner, Q.C., and Gloria Froese, for the accused.

This matter was heard on October 17, 2014, by Wittmann, C.J.Q.B., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Calgary, who delivered the following reasons for judgment on November 3, 2014.