The defendant was convicted after trial in the Integrated Domestic Violence Court of assault with a weapon and uttering a death threat.
The offences occurred during a domestic dispute where the defendant obtained a knife, pointed it at the complainant, threatened to kill her and her family, and thrust the knife blade into a bedroom door.
The Crown sought a custodial sentence of 30-60 days with probation, while the defence sought a conditional discharge with 12-24 months probation.
The court imposed a conditional discharge with 12 months probation, finding that deterrence would not be diminished without a criminal conviction and that rehabilitation was viable given the defendant's prosocial antecedents and lack of prior criminal record.
