R. v. R.J.W., (2002) 211 N.S.R.(2d) 239 (PC)

• Judge: Williams, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: December 30, 2002
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (2002), 211 N.S.R.(2d) 239 (PC);2003 NSPC 1

R. v. R.J.W. (2002), 211 N.S.R.(2d) 239 (PC);

 662 A.P.R. 239

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2003] N.S.R.(2d) TBEd. FE.025

R. v. R.J.W.

(2003 NSPC 1)

Indexed As: R. v. R.J.W.

Nova Scotia Provincial Court

Williams, P.C.J.

December 30, 2002.

Summary:

A 17 year old youth charged in adult court on charges of attempted murder, robbery and breach of probation pleaded guilty to aggra­vated assault. The youth shot a cab driver in the back of the head. The cab driver sur­vived, but had a bullet lodged in his brain and was blind.

The Nova Scotia Provincial Court sen­tenced the youth to imprisonment for seven years and nine months.

Criminal Law - Topic 5841

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Age of accused - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5938 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.7

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Denunciation or repudiation of conduct - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5938 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5938

Sentence - Aggravated assault - A 17 year old youth shot a taxi driver in the back of the head, stole his money and left him to die - The driver survived, but is now blind - The youth knew the driver - The youth was a drug trafficker with an exten­sive criminal record for drug offences, being unlawfully at large, uttering threats and assault - The youth was on probation at the time of the offence - The Nova Scotia Provincial Court held that the start­ing point sentence was between five and 10 years; that the act of senseless violence required denunciation and condemnation - The court, after giving the youth 15 months' credit for 10 months spent on remand, sentenced him to imprisonment for seven years and nine months - The court stated that "young persons who com­mit these types of crimes should know that their age will not save them from appro­priate and lengthy sentences".

Cases Noticed:

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, refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. McDonnell (T.E.), [1997] 1 S.C.R. 948; 210 N.R. 241; 196 A.R. 321; 141 W.A.C. 321; 114 C.C.C.(3d) 436, refd to. [para. 9].

R. v. Harris (P.J.) (2000), 181 N.S.R.(2d) 211; 560 A.P.R. 211 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 11].

R. v. Priest (J.) (1996), 93 O.A.C. 163; 110 C.C.C.(3d) 289 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Muise (D.R.) (1994), 135 N.S.R.(2d) 81; 386 A.P.R. 81; 94 C.C.C.(3d) 119 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. S.F.A. (2001), 190 N.S.R.(2d) 240; 594 A.P.R. 240 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 16].

R. v. Melanson (E.R.) (1998), 199 N.B.R.(2d) 338; 510 A.P.R. 338 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. Pitkeathly (D.B.) (1994), 69 O.A.C. 352 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Opsitnik (1986), 13 O.A.C. 50 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Izzard (W.) (1995), 148 N.S.R.(2d) 35; 429 A.P.R. 35 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Julian (1991), 101 N.S.R.(2d) 222; 275 A.P.R. 222 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Grandy (1986), 70 N.S.R.(2d) 270; 166 A.P.R. 270, refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Brophy (1989), 89 N.S.R.(2d) 417; 227 A.P.R. 417 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Colley (1991), 100 N.S.R.(2d) 447; 272 A.P.R. 447 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].

Counsel:

Eric R. Woodburn, for the Crown;

Mark T. Knox, for the accused.

This case was heard before Williams, P.C.J., of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court, who imposed the following sentence orally on December 30, 2002.