M. Morse

Ashley Gallie, a pharmacy technician, was sentenced for multiple criminal and drug charges, including theft over $5,000 and possession of oxycodone for the purpose of trafficking, arising from stealing large quantities of oxycodone from two pharmacies where she was employed.

The court found her guilty of possession for the purpose of trafficking for the first pharmacy (Nova) but not for the second (IDA), accepting her addiction but rejecting her claim of sole personal use for all stolen drugs.

The sentencing considered aggravating factors such as breach of trust and the large quantity of drugs, and mitigating factors including her lack of prior record, addiction, and family circumstances.

A penitentiary sentence of four years and six months was imposed for possession for the purpose of trafficking, with concurrent sentences for other charges.

The offender was convicted of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and breach of recognizance after stabbing a person in self-defence with a switchblade he was carrying.

The court considered the offender's mental health challenges and onerous bail conditions as mitigating factors, and his prior criminal record and the inherently dangerous nature of the concealed switchblade as aggravating factors.

The court imposed a total sentence of 9 months and 20 days imprisonment, followed by two years of probation, along with a lifetime weapons prohibition and a DNA order.

Five individuals were jointly charged with aggravated assault arising from an attack on the victim in an apartment building hallway.

The victim was struck with a beer bottle and stabbed multiple times.

The Crown's case depended entirely on eyewitness identification by the victim.

During trial, the Crown withdrew charges against one accused.

The court found that the victim credibly identified two of the remaining accused as the direct perpetrators of the assault.

However, the court found insufficient evidence to establish that the other two accused were parties to the assault, as the Crown's theory relied on speculation regarding their knowledge and intent.

The court also harboured reasonable doubt regarding one of the weapon possession charges.