Jeffrey R. Ray

The Crown appealed a decision of the Court of Appeal that ordered a new sentencing hearing for the respondent.

The sentencing judge had declared the respondent a dangerous offender and imposed an indeterminate sentence without considering the newly enacted long-term offender provisions.

Applying the companion case of R. v. Johnson, the Supreme Court of Canada held that a sentencing judge must consider the possibility of a long-term offender designation prior to declaring an offender dangerous.

The appeal was dismissed and the order for a new sentencing hearing was confirmed.

The appellant appealed his conviction for harassment, arguing that his right to be tried within a reasonable time under s. 11(b) of the Charter was violated due to trial scheduling delays and restrictive bail conditions.

The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the appeal, finding no error in the British Columbia Court of Appeal's disposition that warranted intervention, despite expressing concern over the length of the delay.