Charter Cases: Section 12: Cruel & Unusual Punishment
R. v. Lewis, 2012 ONCJ 413
In R. v. Lewis, Justice Bellefontaine of the Ontario Court of Justice applied the precedent-setting decision in R. v. Smickle, to strike down a three-year mandatory minimum sentence for “trafficking” in firearms. Continue reading
R. v. Smickle, 2012 ONSC 602
Mr. Smickle was convicted of possession of a loaded firearm, contrary to Section 95(1) of the Criminal Code, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of three years’ incarceration. The Charter issue was raised on sentencing, and concerned the issue of whether three years’ incarceration was “cruel and unusual punishment” given the circumstances of Mr. Smickle’s offence. Continue reading