R. v. Stratton (M.) et al., 2002 NSSC 103

JudgeWright, J.
CourtSupreme Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
Case DateApril 02, 2002
JurisdictionNova Scotia
Citations2002 NSSC 103;(2002), 204 N.S.R.(2d) 372 (SC)

R. v. Stratton (M.) (2002), 204 N.S.R.(2d) 372 (SC);

 639 A.P.R. 372

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2002] N.S.R.(2d) TBEd. MY.045

Her Majesty The Queen v. Michael Stratton and Joey Reid

(CR. ST. 08967; 2002 NSSC 103)

Indexed As: R. v. Stratton (M.) et al.

Nova Scotia Supreme Court

Wright, J.

April 4, 2002.

Summary:

The accused (Stratton and Reid) were con­victed by a jury of manslaughter. Shortly af­ter leaving a tavern, Stratton and the vic­tim engaged in a fight. Stratton got the victim in a "sleeper hold" from behind. Reid, who was intoxicated, took a couple of staggering kicks at the victim, causing mini­mal harm. The victim was rendered un­conscious. Everyone present panicked. An ill-fated decision was made to try CPR to resuscitate the victim. In fact, the CPR attempts (by four separate people) caused the victim's death by asphyxiation. Absent CPR, the victim, who suffered only superficial cuts and bruises, would not have died.

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court, assessing the moral blameworthiness of the accused in this "near accident" case, imposed con­ditional sentences of two years less a day. Both accused were subject to house arrest for the first year, a curfew for the balance of the sentence and 240 hours of community ser­vice. Additionally, the accused Reid was given two years' probation.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sen­tence - When available or appropriate - The accused (Stratton and Reid) were con­victed by a jury of manslaughter - Shortly after leaving a tavern, Stratton and the vic­tim engaged in a fight - Stratton got the victim in a "sleeper hold" from behind - Reid, who was intoxicated, took a couple of staggering kicks at the victim, causing minimal harm - The victim was rendered unconscious - Everyone present panicked -An ill-fated decision was made to try CPR to resuscitate the victim - In fact, the CPR attempts (by four separate people) caused the victim's death by asphyxiation - Ab­sent CPR, the victim, who suffered only superficial cuts and bruises, would not have died - Both accused were 24 with no history of violence - One accused (Reid) had prior unrelated convictions for liquor offences - There were no aggravating fac­tors - The Nova Scotia Supreme Court, as­sessing the moral blameworthiness of the accused in this "near accident" case (low end of scale between near accident and al­most murder), imposed conditional sen­tences of two years less a day - Both ac­cused were subject to house arrest for the first year, a curfew for the balance of the sentence and 240 hours of community ser­vice - Additionally, the accused Reid was given two years' probation.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.5

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sen­tence - Conditions of - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5809.01

Sentencing - General - Sentencer bound by factual implications of jury's verdict - The Nova Scotia Supreme Court stated that a sentencing judge was bound by the express and implied factual implications of the jury's verdict - However, where the basis for the jury's verdict was not clear, the sentencing judge "is entitled, and indeed required, to make an independent determi­nation of the relevant facts, applying the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, which must be consistent with the finding of guilt by the jury" - See para­graph 6.

Criminal Law - Topic 5809.3

Sentencing - General - Where factual basis for jury's verdict unclear - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5809.01 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5882

Sentence - Manslaughter - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Henry (T.A.) (2002), 203 N.S.R.(2d) 40; 635 A.P.R. 40 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 3].

R. v. Braun (C.D.) (1995), 97 Man.R.(2d) 172; 79 W.A.C. 172; 95 C.C.C.(3d) 443 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Gardiner (1982), 43 N.R. 361; 68 C.C.C.(2d) 477 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Cooney (R.) (1995), 80 O.A.C. 89; 98 C.C.C.(3d) 196 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 6].

R. v. Lawrence (N.A.) (1999), 172 N.S.R.(2d) 375; 524 A.P.R. 375 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Creighton (1993), 157 N.R. 1; 65 O.A.C. 321; 83 C.C.C.(3d) 346 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 32].

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. 38].

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. 44].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 718 [para. 16]; sect. 718.1 [para. 17]; sect. 718.2 [para. 18]; sect. 742.1 [para. 19].

Counsel:

Robert Hagell, for the Crown;

Anne Malick, Q.C., for the accused, Stratton;

Kevin Coady, for the accused, Reid.

This case was heard on April 2, 2002, at Truro, N.S., before Wright, J., of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, whose following oral decision of April 4, 2002, was released on April 29, 2002.

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4 practice notes
  • R. v. Sinclair (T.),
    • Canada
    • Court of Appeal (Manitoba)
    • July 15, 2009
    ...to. [para. 111]. R. v. Capistrano (L.C.) (2001), 154 Man.R.(2d) 140; 2001 MBQB 60, refd to. [para. 116]. R. v. Stratton (M.) et al. (2002), 204 N.S.R.(2d) 372; 639 A.P.R. 372; 2002 NSSC 103, refd to. [para. 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......
  • R. v. Isenor (B.), 2007 NSPC 70
    • Canada
    • Nova Scotia Provincial Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • November 23, 2007
    ...165 A.R. 375; 89 W.A.C. 375 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18]. R. v. K.K.L. - see R. v. Laberge (K.K.). R. v. Stratton (M.) et al. (2002), 204 N.S.R.(2d) 372; 639 A.P.R. 372 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 24]. R. v. King, [1999] N.S.J. No. 318 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 35]. R. v. J.W. (1997), 99 O.A.C. 16......
  • R. v. Hickey (D.P.), 2011 NSSC 186
    • Canada
    • Nova Scotia Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • May 13, 2011
    ...C.C.C.(3d) 346, refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Cormier (1975), 9 N.S.R.(2d) 687 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 21]. R. v. Stratton (M.) et al. (2002), 204 N.S.R.(2d) 372; 639 A.P.R. 372 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 21]. R. v. Julian (1973), 6 N.S.R.(2d) 504 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 21]. R. v. Lawrence (N.A.......
  • R. v. Reid,
    • Canada
    • Court of Appeal of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • October 9, 2003
    ...not have died. Stratton and Reid were convicted by a jury of manslaughter. The Nova Scotia Supreme Court, in a judgment reported (2002), 204 N.S.R.(2d) 372; 639 A.P.R. 372 , assessing the moral blameworthiness of Stratton and Reid in this "near accident" case, imposed conditional sentences......
4 cases
  • R. v. Sinclair (T.),
    • Canada
    • Court of Appeal (Manitoba)
    • July 15, 2009
    ...to. [para. 111]. R. v. Capistrano (L.C.) (2001), 154 Man.R.(2d) 140; 2001 MBQB 60, refd to. [para. 116]. R. v. Stratton (M.) et al. (2002), 204 N.S.R.(2d) 372; 639 A.P.R. 372; 2002 NSSC 103, refd to. [para. 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......
  • R. v. Isenor (B.), 2007 NSPC 70
    • Canada
    • Nova Scotia Provincial Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • November 23, 2007
    ...165 A.R. 375; 89 W.A.C. 375 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 18]. R. v. K.K.L. - see R. v. Laberge (K.K.). R. v. Stratton (M.) et al. (2002), 204 N.S.R.(2d) 372; 639 A.P.R. 372 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 24]. R. v. King, [1999] N.S.J. No. 318 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 35]. R. v. J.W. (1997), 99 O.A.C. 16......
  • R. v. Hickey (D.P.), 2011 NSSC 186
    • Canada
    • Nova Scotia Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • May 13, 2011
    ...C.C.C.(3d) 346, refd to. [para. 20]. R. v. Cormier (1975), 9 N.S.R.(2d) 687 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 21]. R. v. Stratton (M.) et al. (2002), 204 N.S.R.(2d) 372; 639 A.P.R. 372 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 21]. R. v. Julian (1973), 6 N.S.R.(2d) 504 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 21]. R. v. Lawrence (N.A.......
  • R. v. Reid,
    • Canada
    • Court of Appeal of Nova Scotia (Canada)
    • October 9, 2003
    ...not have died. Stratton and Reid were convicted by a jury of manslaughter. The Nova Scotia Supreme Court, in a judgment reported (2002), 204 N.S.R.(2d) 372; 639 A.P.R. 372 , assessing the moral blameworthiness of Stratton and Reid in this "near accident" case, imposed conditional sentences......

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