R. v. Pauchay (C.C.), (2009) 333 Sask.R. 167 (PC)

• Judge: Morgan, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Saskatchewan (Canada)
• Case Date: March 06, 2009
• Jurisdiction: Saskatchewan
• Citations: (2009), 333 Sask.R. 167 (PC);2009 SKPC 35

R. v. Pauchay (C.C.) (2009), 333 Sask.R. 167 (PC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2009] Sask.R. TBEd. MR.022

Her Majesty the Queen v. Christopher Charles Pauchay

(Information No. 24335000; 2009 SKPC 35)

Indexed As: R. v. Pauchay (C.C.)

Saskatchewan Provincial Court

Morgan, P.C.J.

March 6, 2009.

Summary:

The accused pled guilty to a charge that he did, by criminal negligence, in failing to protect his two daughters from exposure to the elements, cause their death, contrary to s. 220(b) of the Criminal Code. The accused, a member of the Yellow Quill First Nation, requested a sentencing circle.

The Saskatchewan Provincial Court, in a decision reported at (2009), 328 Sask.R. 173, granted the request for a sentencing circle. A sentencing circle was held.

The Saskatchewan Provincial Court imposed a sentence of three years' imprisonment.

Criminal Law - Topic 5809.2

Sentencing - Establishment of sentencing or healing circle - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5863.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5831.1

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Offences involving breach of trust -[See Criminal Law - Topic 5863.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5833.1

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Child abuse - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5863.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5846.1

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Aboriginal offenders - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5863.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.7

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Denunciation or repudiation of conduct - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5863.1 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5863.1

Sentence - Criminal negligence causing death or bodily harm - The accused pled guilty to a charge that he did, by criminal negligence, in failing to protect his two daughters from exposure to the elements, cause their death, contrary to s. 220(b) of the Criminal Code - The two girls, aged three years and 15 months, had been in the accused's care when he became severely intoxicated - The accused took the children outside in frigid winter weather - The girls' bodies were subsequently found outside - One was dressed only in a diaper and short sleeved t-shirt - The other was dressed in a diaper and a long sleeved adult's shirt - Both had died of hypothermia - The accused's criminal record included 51 entries - He had problems with alcohol abuse - He was a member of the Yellow Quill First Nation and a sentencing circle was held - The accused's community offered strong support for him - The Saskatchewan Provincial Court imposed a sentence of three years' imprisonment - The accused's use of alcohol on the night in question, his prior record, his lack of insight into the causes of his offending behaviour, and the helplessness of his victims, were aggravating factors - The court also noted the extremely young ages of the children, and the fact that the accused was their sole caregiver and stood in a position of trust to them - Sections 718.2(a)(ii.1) and (iii) of the Criminal Code mandated that those points be viewed as aggravating factors - While the court acknowledged that the accused felt remorse and grief for the devastating consequences of his actions, and that he had entered an early guilty plea, the fact remained that two defenceless young victims lost their lives as a direct consequence of his reckless behaviour - The principle of denunciation, and the need to foster respect for the judicial system, mandated a significant response - The court stated that although it appreciated the input of the community of Yellow Quill, as expressed through the sentencing circle, it could not agree with the recommendations of that circle - Nor did the court have the jurisdiction, even were it so inclined, to construct a sentence that would place the accused under community control in the manner suggested at the sentencing circle.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Nusrat (N.) (2009), 244 O.A.C. 241; 2009 CarswellOnt 114; 2009 ONCA 31, refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Gross (T.M.) (1999), 179 Sask.R. 280; 1999 CarswellSask 399 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 22].

R. v. John (J.L.), [2004] 7 W.W.R. 643; 241 Sask.R. 268; 313 W.A.C. 268; 182 C.C.C.(3d) 273; [2004] 2 C.N.L.R. 150; 2004 CarswellSask 74; 2004 SKCA 13, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Linden (J.) (2000), 135 O.A.C. 193; 147 C.C.C.(3d) 299 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Weeseekase (B.R.) (1997), 158 Sask.R. 245; 153 W.A.C. 245 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

R. v. Keshane (D.S.) (2005), 257 Sask.R. 161; 342 W.A.C. 161; 2005 SKCA 18, refd to. [para. 58].

R. v. Cappo (F.A.) (2005), 269 Sask.R. 311; 357 W.A.C. 311; 2005 SKCA 134, refd to. [para. 64].

R. v. Andres (A.J.) (2002), 223 Sask.R. 121; 277 W.A.C. 121 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 64].

R. v. Gladue (J.T.), [1999] 1 S.C.R. 688; 238 N.R. 1; 121 B.C.A.C. 161; 198 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 64].

R. v. Cheekinew (L.J.), [1993] 3 C.N.L.R. 172; 108 Sask.R. 114; 80 C.C.C.(3d) 143; 1993 CarswellSask 291 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Taylor (W.B.) (1997), 163 Sask.R. 29; 165 W.A.C. 29; 37 W.C.B.(2d) 286 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Kahnapace (N.T.) (2001), 207 Sask.R. 247; 247 W.A.C. 247; 2001 SKCA 55, refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Joseyounen, [1995] 6 W.W.R. 438; [1996] 1 C.N.L.R. 182 (Sask. Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. McDonald (D.P.), [1997] 4 W.W.R. 318; 152 Sask.R. 81; 140 W.A.C. 81; 113 C.C.C.(3d) 418; 5 C.R.(5th) 189; 25 M.V.R.(3d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Miller, 1993 SKCA (SentDig) 72, refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Clarke, 1993 SKCA (SentDig) 72, refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Kahpeepatow (1991), 97 Sask.R. 90; 12 W.A.C. 90; 31 M.V.R.(2d) 132; 1991 SKCA(SentDig) 104, refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Paul (1991), 89 Sask.R. 199; 27 M.V.R.(2d) 161; 1991 SKCA (SentDig) 32, refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Keller (A.A.) (1997), 158 Sask.R. 181; 153 W.A.C. 181; 31 M.V.R.(3d) 65; 1997 SKCA (SentDig) 50, refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. M.E.N. (1994), 123 Sask.R. 58; 74 W.A.C. 58; 1994 SKCA (SentDig) 72, refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. S.W.E. (2000), 189 Sask.R. 239; 216 W.A.C. 239; 144 C.C.C.(3d) 277; 2000 SKCA (SentDig) 11, refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. McGinn (1989), 75 Sask.R. 161; 49 C.C.C.(3d) 137; 1989 CarswellSask 359 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 65].

R. v. Khypeasewat (V.) (2006), 284 Sask.R. 55; 2006 SKPC 79, refd to. [para. 66].

R. v. Delaittre (C.J.D.) (1998), 168 Sask.R. 195; 173 W.A.C. 195; 1998 CanLII 12361 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 66].

R. v. Shore (T.A.) (2002), 225 Sask.R. 5; 2002 SKPC 42, refd to. [para. 66].

R. v. Rope (C.J.), [1995] 2 C.N.L.R. 209; 136 Sask.R. 171; 1995 CanLII 4084 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. Lam (M.) (2004), 351 A.R. 332; 2004 ABQB 78, refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. Millar (1990), 11 W.C.B.(2d) 370 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. Pashe (S.J.) (1995), 100 Man.R.(2d) 61; 91 W.A.C. 61; 1995 CanLII 6256 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. S.P. (2002), 218 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 303; 653 A.P.R. 303; 2002 CanLII 22206 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 67].

R. v. Matthews (C.), [1998] O.A.C. Uned. 71; 1998 CanLII 5252 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 67].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Clewley, Gary R., and McDermott, Paul G., Sentencing: The Practitioner's Guide (Looseleaf), p. 8-5, para. 8:40 [para. 33].

Counsel:

M. Beaton, for the Crown;

R. Piché, for the accused.

This matter was heard before Morgan, P.C.J., of the Saskatchewan Provincial Court, who delivered the following sentencing decision on March 6, 2009.