Armed Robbery of Liquor Store (Calgary) – Time Served & Probation

Charges:
CC: s.344(1)(B) – Armed Robbery, s.351(2) – Face Masked While Committing an Indictable Offence, s.266 – Assault

Allegations:
My client tried to rob a liquor store at gun point, wearing pyjamas, a hoody and a scarf over her face.  She was highly intoxicated.  She pointed an imitation firearm (a BB handgun) at the store clerk and said: “Give me all your money.”  The clerk immediately rushed my client, grabbed the gun from her, and had a customer hold her down until the police arrived. She also had an outstanding assault charge from a different incident.

Result:
My client was initially denied bail in Provincial Court when she had a different lawyer.  Months later, her father retained me.  I was able to get her out of jail with a sentence of time served plus probation.

Charges:
CC: s.266 – Assault, s.86(2) – Unsecured Firearm x 2, s.91(1) – Possess Firearm Without Licence x 2, s.264.1(1)(A) – Uttering Threats

Allegations:
My client got into a big argument with his wife over the phone, because she was out getting drunk with some friends.  He told her not to come home.  She did anyway, but slept in their RV.  When he found her there, he became enraged, and began hitting and punching her repeatedly, and pulled her hair so hard that some ripped out.  She was fighting back and screaming so loud that my client stopped, in order to avoid alerting the neighbours.  She told police that he brought home a shotgun and a rifle and she was concerned for the safety of herself and her family, as he had threatened to kill her father.

Result:
On the day of trial, the Crown agreed to withdraw all charges and to resolve with a Peace Bond.

Charges:
CC: s.267(A) – Assault with a Weapon x 2, s.264.1(1)(A) – Uttering Threats x 2, s.87(1) – Pointing a Loaded Firearm, s.92(2) – Possession of a Prohibited Firearm without a License.

Allegations:
A neighbour called police after witnessing my drunken client yelling at his wife outside of their residence, and throwing a rake at her.  Police then obtained further information from his wife about previous acts of violence toward her including one time when he threatened her with a large butcher knife and told her to stab him or else he was going to stab her, and another time when he pointed a loaded rifle at her and told her that he was going to kill her.  My client had a criminal record and had already resolved a previous incident of domestic violence with a Peace Bond.

Result:
Charges Withdrawn.  Resolved with a Peace Bond, again.

Charges:
CC: s.267(A) – Assault with a Weapon, s.439(4) – Mischief

Allegations:
My client and her son went to his ex-girlfriend’s grandmother’s house, in order to retrieve some personal items that she took while she was living with them.  They were banging on her door but they were being ignored.  Finally, they answered the door and told them to leave.  My client and her son began pushing on the door and trying to force their way inside.  My client’s son entered through a bedroom window and was struggling with his ex-girlfriend when my client picked up and threw a heavy ashtray at her.  They got what they wanted and left.  Her son was charge with Breaking & Entering and Robbery.

Result:
Charges Withdrawn. Resolved with a Peace Bond before trial.

Charges:

CC: s.87 – Pointing a Firearm at Someone, s.86(1) – Unsafely Carry a Loaded Firearm, s.91(2) – Possess Firearm Without Valid Permit, s.88 – Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, s.249(1)(a) – Dangerous Driving.

Allegations:

My client was having problems with the complainant, whom he had agreed to allow to reside with him and his family for a while.  After consuming copious amounts of alcohol, they went for a drive. While the complainant was relieving himself outside of the vehicle, my client attempted to drive away. However, the complainant jumped onto the driver’s side of the truck and held on, while my client continued to drive at a high speed for over 300 metres. The complainant grabbed the steering wheel and the vehicle crashed into a ditch and rolled.  Upon exiting the vehicle, the complainant assaulted my client and then they stumbled back to the residence together, whereupon my client grabbed his rifle, pointed it at the complainant and threatened to shoot him, if he didn’t leave right away.

Result:

Since the police were unable to locate the complainant, in order to serve him with a subpoena to attend at the trial, the Crown Entered a stay of Proceedings, effectively withdrawing all of the charges.