A young Black man was sentenced for possessing a loaded handgun in a Hamilton pub while intoxicated and in breach of court orders.
The court considered systemic anti-Black racism and personal disadvantages as mitigating factors affecting moral culpability, but emphasized the gravity of the offence, the aggravating circumstances of possessing a loaded firearm in a public place while intoxicated and confrontational, and the offender's extensive criminal record.
The court imposed a global custodial sentence emphasizing denunciation, deterrence, and public protection, followed by probation with culturally appropriate programming.
