R. vs. E.L. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charges: Aggravated Assault; Breach of Probation.

Issue: Given the context of the offences and our client’s rehabilitative efforts, whether a jail sentence was appropriate.

Result: Mr. Johnston informed Crown counsel of the significant rehabilitative progress our client had made since the offence dates and persuaded Crown to not pursue the 16 month  jail sentence they had been seeking. Crown agreed to proceed on the less serious charge of assault causing bodily harm and to stay the remaining charges. After hearing Mr. Johnston’s submissions, the court granted our client a one year conditional sentence sentence and two years of probation. This was a particularly positive outcome for our client, who had a prior conviction for a similar offence. No jail.

R. vs. M.J. – Atlin Provincial Court

Charges: Possession of Prohibited Firearms (x4); Smuggling; Deceptive Statement to Customs.

Issue: Whether jail was the appropriate sentence for our client who brought firearms and ammunition into Canada unlawfully.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to present Crown counsel with information about our client’s circumstances and the circumstances of the offence so that Crown revised its sentencing position to not seek jail. After hearing Mr. Gauthier’s submissions, the Court sentenced our client to a substantial fine and did not impose a firearm prohibition. No jail.

R. vs. B.A. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charge: Robbery (reduced to theft under$5000).

Issue: Whether there was sufficient evidence that our client used force while committing theft to support a charge of robbery.

Result: Mr. Johnston drew Crown counsel’s attention to weaknesses in witness evidence, persuading Crown counsel to direct a stay of proceedings on the count of robbery and to proceed on the less serious charge of theft. After hearing Mr. Johnston’s submissions,  the Court granted our client a conditional discharge which was particularly significant as our client, a foreign national, would have been deemed inadmissible to Canada had he received a criminal conviction. No jail. No criminal record. Client able to remain in Canada.

R. vs. K.C. – Delta Police Investigation

Charges: Assault Causing Bodily Harm.

Issue: Whether it was in the public interest to proceed with criminal charges for this alleged assault that occured in the context of a recreational sporting activity.

Result: Mr. Mines provided information to the police investigator on our clients’s behalf. Ultimately police decided to not recommend any criminal charges. No prosecution; no criminal record.

R. vs. K.J. – Surrey Provincial Court

Charge: Uttering Threats.

Issue: Given the circumstances of the alleged offence and the rehabilitative steps we were able to guide our client through, whether it was in the public interest to proceed with the criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade Crown counsel to stay the proceedings and to resolve this matter with a 12 month Peace Bond. No criminal record.

R. vs. Z.A. – Burnaby RCMP Investigation

Charge: Assault (domestic).

Issue: Whether the allegations of this domestic allegation would meet the Crown counsel’s charge approval standard.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to provide information to Crown counsel that ultimately led to Crown declining to approve any criminal charge. Our client’s Undertaking was withdrawn, permitting him to resume contact with his spouse. No criminal record.

R. vs. K.L. – North Vancouver Provincial Court

Charges: Assault.

Issue: Given the information we provided to Crown counsel on behalf of our client, whether  it was appropriate to proceed with a criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able tp persuade Crown counsel that this matter did not meet the charge approval standard. Croen elected to not approve any charges. No prosecution. No criminal record.

R. vs. J.Z. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charges: Assault with a weapon.

Issue: Given the circumstances of the offence and the rehabilitative steps that we were able to guide our client through, whether it was in the public interest for our client to be granted a conditional discharge in this case involving our client not obeying  a traffic flag person and assaulting her with her car.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to persuade Crown and the Court to grant our client  a conditional discharge. Our client was placed on probation with a term to perform community service work.

R. vs. X.Z. – Vancouver Provincial Court

Charges: s.810 Recognizance (Peace Bond) Application.

Issue: Whether there was sufficient evidence for the crown to prove that the complainant’s fear was reasonable.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to provide information to Crown that helped persuade Crown to enter a stay of proceedings. No Peace Bond was imposed on our client.

R. vs. Z.Y. – Healthcare Insurance Fraud Investigation

Charges: Fraud Under $5000.

Issue: Given the prompt repayment of restitution that we made on our client’s behalf, whether it was in the public interest to proceed with a criminal prosecution.

Result: Mr. Gauthier was able to persuade the investigator to not forward any charges for prosecution. No criminal record.

R. vs. A.M. – Port Coquitlam Provincial Court

Charges: Pointing a firearm; assault with a firearm.

Issue: Given the context of the offence and our client’s remorse and rehabilitation, whether a jail sentence was appropriate.

Result: Mr. Mines was able to direct our client through a course of counselling and was able to persuade Crown counsel to make a joint recommendation for a community based sentence rather than the 2 year jail sentence that was Crown’s original sentencing position. After hearing Mr. Mines’ submissions, the court granted our client an 18 month conditional sentence, followed by 12 months probation. No jail.

R. vs. T.B. and M.L. – Surrey RCMP Investigation

Charges: Possession of Stolen Property over $5000.

Issue: Whether police had sufficient grounds to recommend criminal charges against our clients.

Result: After Mr. Gauthier consulted with the investigator, RCMP decided to refer the case for civil forfeiture and to not pursue  any criminal charges against our clients. No prosecution. No criminal record.