Close X
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. Court Of Appeal Ruling Upholds Federal Dangerous-Offender Laws

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Jun, 2016 12:32 PM
    VANCOUVER — British Columbia's highest court has overturned a ruling that found nearly decade-old changes to the federal dangerous-offender laws violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
     
    The decision involves 47-year-old Donald Boutilier, who pleaded guilty in May 2012 to six offences including robbery and assault with a weapon, but challenged a Crown request seeking dangerous-offender status.
     
    Boutilier's lawyer argued successfully that 2008 revisions in an omnibus crime bill passed by the then-Conservative government were too broad and violated the charter, in part because they removed judicial discretion over dangerous-offender designations.
     
    Changes to classification and sentencing of dangerous offenders generally made it easier to apply the law to anyone with multiple convictions.
     
    A panel of B.C. Court of Appeal judges has now ruled that the lower court was wrong to find dangerous-offender provisions remove a judge's sentencing discretion or are too broad.
     
    The unanimous decision upholds the Crown appeal, saying that when all the evidence is considered, it is reasonable to conclude that an indeterminate sentence is the best way to manage the risks posed by Boutilier.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    New Phone Scam Claims To Need Financial Info On Behalf Of Premier Brad Wall

    New Phone Scam Claims To Need Financial Info On Behalf Of Premier Brad Wall
    REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall's office says no one there is calling people looking for financial information.

    New Phone Scam Claims To Need Financial Info On Behalf Of Premier Brad Wall

    Tim Bosma's Accused Killers Both Guilty Because They Planned The Crime: Crown

    Tim Bosma's Accused Killers Both Guilty Because They Planned The Crime: Crown
    HAMILTON — The prosecution in the Tim Bosma murder trial says the jury doesn't have to decide who pulled the trigger because both of the accused planned to kill the Hamilton man and cover up the crime.

    Tim Bosma's Accused Killers Both Guilty Because They Planned The Crime: Crown

    Guilty Pleas In Cases Of Misuse Of Patient Records From Toronto Hospitals

    Guilty Pleas In Cases Of Misuse Of Patient Records From Toronto Hospitals
    Nellie Acar pleaded guilty to one count of secret commissions and one count of using a forged document, while Esther Cruz pleaded guilty to two counts of secret commissions.

    Guilty Pleas In Cases Of Misuse Of Patient Records From Toronto Hospitals

    US Teen Births Fall Again, Another Drop In Decades Of Decline

    US Teen Births Fall Again, Another Drop In Decades Of Decline
    NEW YORK — Teen pregnancies fell again last year, to another historic low, a government report shows.

    US Teen Births Fall Again, Another Drop In Decades Of Decline

    Justin Trudeau Pays Tribute To Tragically Hip Frontman Gord Downie

    OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is paying tribute to Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie — and leaving the door open to looking at the issue of fairness in ticket sales.

    Justin Trudeau Pays Tribute To Tragically Hip Frontman Gord Downie

    Grassy Narrows Teens Ejected From Ontario Legislature For Protest

    Grassy Narrows Teens Ejected From Ontario Legislature For Protest
    TORONTO — A group of teenagers from the remote Grassy Narrows First Nation were ejected from the Ontario legislature today for wearing T-shirts reading: "water is sacred."

    Grassy Narrows Teens Ejected From Ontario Legislature For Protest