R v Wells

R v Wells is a decision of the Supreme Court of Canada with respect to sentencing principles set out in s 718.2(e) of the Criminal Code, relating to Aboriginal offenders. The decision clarified the principles set out in the Court's earlier decision in R v Gladue.

Background
The offender was attending a house party where he assaulted an 18-year-old girl while she was sleeping. The offender was convicted. At the sentencing hearing he asked for a conditional sentence, citing s 718.2(3) of the Criminal Code, which directs that sentencing courts should take the circumstances of Aboriginal offenders into account when considering whether to give a non-custodial sentence. The trial judge agreed that the court must take into account the offender's Aboriginal heritage, but held that the sentence could not be served in the community since it would not provide sufficient denunciation and deterrence. The Alberta Court of Appeal upheld the sentence.

Reasons of the Court
Justice Iacobucci for a unanimous court held that where the severity of the offence increases, the applicability of s. 718.2(e) decreases. For crimes of violence and where the offender is a substantial risk to the community, the offender should receive a sentence substantially similar to non-Aboriginal offenders.