R. v. Gladue
| R v Gladue | |
|---|---|
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| Hearing: April 23, 1999 Judgment: December 19, 1999 |
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| Full case name | Jamie Tanis Gladue v Her Majesty The Queen |
| Citations | [1999] 1 S.C.R. 688 |
| Ruling | Appeal dismissed |
| Court Membership | |
|
Chief Justice: Antonio Lamer Puisne Justices: Claire L'Heureux-Dubé, Charles Gonthier, Beverley McLachlin, Frank Iacobucci, John C. Major, Michel Bastarache, Ian Binnie, Louise Arbour |
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| Reasons given | |
| Unanimous reasons by | Cory and Iacobucci JJ. |
See also Gladue report
R v Gladue is a decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the sentencing principles under s. 718.2(e) of the Criminal Code, which directs the courts to take into account non-custodial options, "with particular attention to the circumstances of Aboriginal offenders".
On September 16, 1995, Jamie Tanis Gladue was drinking and celebrating her 19th birthday with some friends in Nanaimo, British Columbia. She suspected that the victim, her boyfriend, was having an affair with the offender's older sister, Tara. Gladue made specific threats that "he was going to get it." Following a confrontation, the victim uttered many insults at the offender, at which point the offender stabbed the victim in the chest. She was subsequently charged with second degree murder and ultimately convicted of manslaughter.
At her sentencing hearing the judge took into account many aggravating factors including the fact that the offender was not afraid of the victim. The court also took into account several mitigating factors such as her youth, her status as a mother and the absence of any serious criminal history. She was sentenced to three years imprisonment. The trial judge held that s. 718.2(e) did not apply to off-reserve Aboriginals. The British Columbia Court of Appeal upheld the sentence.
Justices Cory and Iacobucci held that the courts below erred in taking an overly narrow approach of s. 718.2(e). The purpose of this provision is to address the historical over-representation of Aboriginals in the criminal justice system. This applied to Aboriginals, regardless of place of residence or lifestyle. However, the court ultimately dismissed the appeal, finding that the sentence was fit given the seriousness of the offence.
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