Richard O’Brien

The 19-year-old offender, who was 16 at the time of the offences, was convicted of multiple counts of robbery with a firearm and unlawful confinement relating to a string of convenience store robberies.

The Crown sought an adult sentence of eight years.

The court found that the Crown failed to rebut the presumption of diminished moral blameworthiness, noting the offender's complex trauma, impulsivity, and history in the child welfare system.

The court imposed the maximum youth sentence of three years, comprising two years in closed custody and one year of community supervision, along with a lifetime weapons prohibition.

The accused pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder for attacking his 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter with a hammer.

The attacks occurred during a scheduled access visit following a marital separation.

The court emphasized denunciation and deterrence given the domestic context and the extreme breach of parental trust.

The accused was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, reduced to 11 years after applying enhanced credit for pre-sentence custody and harsh lockdown conditions.

The accused was charged with two counts of robbery, one count of intent to commit robbery, and one count of being masked with intent to commit robbery arising from two jewellery store robberies occurring one month apart at the same location.

The central issue at trial was the identity of the robber.

The court admitted similar fact evidence between the two incidents, finding a high degree of similarity in method, timing, location, and distinctive conduct including vaulting display counters and stealing only gold chains.

Fingerprint evidence recovered from the store during the second robbery was accepted as matching the accused and consistent with the intruder’s movements captured on surveillance video.

The court concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed both robberies and that the circumstances implied threats of violence sufficient to constitute robbery.

The accused was charged with multiple firearms and drug offences after police responded to a 911 call about suspicious males in his apartment building.

A scuffle ensued when the accused exited his apartment, leading to his arrest and the discovery of a concealed knife.

A subsequent search of the apartment revealed a shotgun and crack cocaine.

The court found the accused guilty of carrying a concealed weapon based on his own admission and police evidence.

However, due to significant inconsistencies in the officers' testimonies regarding the discovery of shotgun shells and the weapons, the court found reasonable doubt regarding the accused's possession of the shotgun and drugs, resulting in acquittals on those charges.