Joanne McIntyre

The Crown brought a dangerous offender and long-term offender application following the offender's convictions for a series of violent, random attacks on women, including robbery, attempted sexual assault, and break and enter.

The court dismissed both applications, finding that the offender's risk of violent re-offence was moderate and did not meet the high threshold of intractability required for such designations.

The court imposed a global sentence of 14 years imprisonment, reduced to 6 years and 6 months net after accounting for pre-sentence custody and enhanced credit for harsh lockdown conditions.

The accused faced 22 charges relating to three random attacks on women and a scheme involving fake Craigslist job postings.

The Crown alleged the accused targeted women for kidnapping and sexual assault.

The court found the accused guilty of multiple offences, including robbery, attempt kidnapping, assault with a weapon, unlawful confinement, and attempt sexual assault in relation to the physical attacks, relying heavily on circumstantial evidence, DNA, and the doctrine of recent possession.

However, the court acquitted the accused of attempt kidnapping and attempt sexual assault regarding the Craigslist scheme, finding the acts did not go beyond mere preparation and the specific intent was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The accused, charged with historical sexual offences, brought pre-trial applications seeking disclosure of redacted police notes and directions on the timing of an anticipated abuse of process application.

The accused alleged that the Crown improperly bifurcated charges between Manitoba and Ontario, resulting in a loss of opportunity to resolve all matters globally.

The court found the accused's Charter application met the threshold to proceed.

To determine if the redacted disclosure was protected by solicitor-client privilege, the court ordered the Crown to provide un-redacted copies under seal for judicial review.

The court also directed that the abuse of process application proceed before the trial.