R. v. Veitch (B.J.), (2008) 438 A.R. 15 (PC)

• Judge: Malin, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: November 26, 2007
• Citations: (2008), 438 A.R. 15 (PC);2008 ABPC 4

R. v. Veitch (B.J.) (2008), 438 A.R. 15 (PC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2008] A.R. TBEd. JA.204

Her Majesty The Queen v. Bob John Veitch (060215423P1; 2008 ABPC 4)

Indexed As: R. v. Veitch (B.J.)

Alberta Provincial Court

Malin, P.C.J.

January 10, 2008.

Summary:

The accused pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing bodily harm and dangerous driving causing bodily harm. The accused sought a conditional sentence. The Crown submitted the circumstances of the offence and the offender and the objectives of general deterrence and denunciation required incarceration.

The Alberta Provincial Court rejected a conditional sentence as inappropriate and sentenced the accused to one year's imprisonment plus a four year driving prohibition.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - A 23 year old restaurant manager tried to persuade an intoxicated accused not to drive - The 40 year old accused drove away, striking the manager - The manager's arm became trapped in the window - The accused ignored his pleas to stop, rolled up the window to further trap his arm, then accelerated and dragged the manager through three blocks of traffic - The manager's body struck a concrete median and a sign post - The accused finally rolled down his window, applied his brakes and swerved to dislodge the injured manager - The accused did not stop - The manager suffered multiple injuries, including cracked ribs, a sprained ankle and severe burning and lacerations - He continued to suffer some physical disability and post-traumatic stress - The accused was stopped by police six minutes later for an unrelated traffic infraction - The accused had no prior criminal or driving record - But for these offences, he appeared to be responsible and mature, having a family and steady employment - The accused had a drinking problem, for which he voluntarily sought treatment - He totally abstained from alcohol, with the exception of one relapse - He was genuinely remorseful and was a low risk to re-offend - The accused pleaded guilty to impaired driving causing bodily harm and dangerous driving causing bodily harm - The Alberta Provincial Court rejected the accused's request for a conditional sentence as inappropriate, given the serious circumstances and the need for denunciation and general deterrence - The accused was sentenced to one year's imprisonment plus a four year driving prohibition.

Criminal Law - Topic 5849.13

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Drinking and driving offences - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5865.1

Sentence - Dangerous driving causing death or bodily harm - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5886.1

Sentence - Impaired driving causing bodily harm - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Beaudry (S.R.) (1996), 181 A.R. 130; 116 W.A.C. 130 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Collins (J.C.) (1995), 174 A.R. 185; 102 W.A.C. 185 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Horon (1990), 107 A.R. 328; 58 C.C.C.(3d) 418; 24 M.V.R.(2d) 223 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Kobelka (C.J.) (2007), 416 A.R. 352; 46 M.V.R.(5th) 278; 2007 ABPC 112, refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Price (J.L.), [2005] A.R. Uned. 559; [2005] A.W.L.D. 3057 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Stumpf (T.A.) (2006), 413 A.R. 359; 41 M.V.R.(5th) 315 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Aalten (D.) (2006), 395 A.R. 190; 30 M.V.R.(5th) 78 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Anderson (J.V.) (2004), 203 B.C.A.C. 304; 332 W.A.C. 304; 8 M.V.R.(5th) 94 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Buffett (1989), 93 N.S.R.(2d) 324; 242 A.P.R. 324; 19 M.V.R.(2d) 61 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Callan (R.J.) (2002), 332 A.R. 173; 2002 ABPC 159, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Capuska (K.) (2005), 194 Man.R.(2d) 113; 21 M.V.R.(5th) 57 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Chapman (N.T.) (2000), 135 B.C.A.C. 147; 221 W.A.C. 147; 3 M.V.R.(4th) 57; 2000 BCCA 152, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Grouette (M.L.A.) (1998), 222 A.R. 383; 1998 ABPC 58, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Hicks (K.T.) (1994), 95 Man.R.(2d) 295; 70 W.A.C. 295; 4 M.V.R.(3d) 254 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Howard (1991), 120 A.R. 29; 8 W.A.C. 29; 35 M.V.R.(2d) 41 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Huynh (L.V.) (2003), 179 Man.R.(2d) 312; 1 M.V.R.(5th) 145 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Iftody (T.L.) (2003), 326 A.R. 358; 2003 ABPC 22, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Jackson (J.E.), [2007] A.R. Uned. 390; 2007 ABPC 198, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Johnston, [2005] A.J. No. 1220 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Krayetski (2003), 236 Sask.R. 317; 43 M.V.R.(4th) 261 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Kyle (2001), 291 A.R. 201; 2001 CarswellAlta 1004; 2001 ABPC 136, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Lokanc, [1996] A.J. No. 1191 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Lynn (T.G.) (2003), 331 A.R. 126; 2003 ABPC 30, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. MacLellan (1991), 110 A.R. 235; 27 M.V.R.(2d) 42 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. MacTavish (L.R.) (1993), 135 A.R. 358; 33 W.A.C. 358 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. McIvor (1991), 6 B.C.A.C. 67; 13 W.A.C. 67; 34 M.V.R.(2d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. McLean (L.J.) (2004), 357 A.R. 321; 334 W.A.C. 321; 2004 CarswellAlta 1501; 2004 ABPC 353, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Merrill (C.J.), [2004] A.R. Uned. 577; 2004 ABPC 135, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Mould (1999), 3 M.V.R.(4th) 111 (Ont. Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

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. 20].

R. v. Poffenroth (E.J.) (2005), 375 A.R. 386; 17 M.V.R.(5th) 189 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Proulx (J.K.D.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 61; 249 N.R. 201; 142 Man.R.(2d) 161; 212 W.A.C. 161; 140 C.C.C.(3d) 449; 30 C.R.(5th) 1; 182 D.L.R.(4th) 1; [2000] 4 W.W.R. 21; 49 M.V.R.(3d) 163; 2000 CarswellMan 33; 44 W.C.B.(2d) 479; 2000 CarswellMan 32; 2000 SCC 5, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Roasting (L.F.M.) (1999), 232 A.R. 136; 195 W.A.C. 136; 19 CarswellAlta 97; 40 M.V.R.(3d) 54 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Sand (C.J.) (2002), 317 A.R. 328; 284 W.A.C. 328; 2002 ABCA 263, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Shepansky (R.J.) (2004), 351 A.R. 377; 2004 ABQB 92, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Summers (1990), 27 M.V.R.(2d) 295 (Ont. C.J.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Tonka (B.E.) (1999), 228 A.R. 388; 188 W.A.C. 388; 1999 ABCA 51, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Whalen (1990), 56 C.C.C.(3d) 470 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Williams (J.S.) (2003), 330 A.R. 178; 299 W.A.C. 178; 2003 ABCA 218, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Wood (S.K.) (2005), 388 A.R. 137; 26 M.V.R.(5th) 126 (Prov. Ct.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Zayezierski (T.J.), [2006] A.R. Uned. 431; 2006 ABPC 150, refd to. [para. 20].

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. 64].

R. v. Singh (K.) (1995), 174 A.R. 350; 102 W.A.C. 350 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 80].

R. v. Breton (S.A.) (2004), 357 A.R. 371; 334 W.A.C. 371; 2004 ABCA 391, refd to. [para. 81].

R. v. Adamson (S.L.), [2007] B.C.T.C. D07; 2007 BCSC 745, refd to. [para. 82].

R. v. Norman (D.) (2000), 137 O.A.C. 197 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 83].

R. v. Vijay (D.) (2002), 324 A.R. 320; 2002 ABQB 825, refd to. [para. 94].

R. v. Rhyason (B.P.) (2007), 404 A.R. 191; 394 W.A.C. 191; 2007 ABCA 119, refd to. [para. 96].

R. v. Biancofiore (N.F.) (1997), 103 O.A.C. 292; 119 C.C.C.(3d) 344 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 99].

R. v. J.W. (1997), 99 O.A.C. 161; 115 C.C.C.(3d) 18 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 99, footnote 1].

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; 105 C.C.C.(3d) 327 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 99, footnote 2].

Counsel:

Robert Palser, for the Crown;

Alexander Pringle, Q.C., for the accused.

This case was heard between April 10 and November 26, 2007, at Edmonton, Alberta, before Malin, P.C.J., of the Alberta Provincial Court, who delivered the following judgment on January 10, 2008.