Domestic Assault Recent Cases Cases

Mr. M. was referred to our office by way of a local Family Law lawyer. The client was an investment broker who had separated from his wife of many years. The couple had a young daughter and pick up and drop off of the child was often an acrimonious affair. On one such occasion an argument ensued and it was alleged that Mr. M. struck his ex in front of their daughter. The police were notified and charges laid. Notwithstanding the heated nature of the prosecution, Mr. Wyman was ultimately successful in convincing Crown counsel to withdraw the charges against our client.

Mr. L. retained our office after being charged with assaulting his wife with a weapon. Things had become heated in the family home and an argument ensued as often did. During the argument, it was alleged that our client threw a boiling pot of water onto his wife. An ambulance was called and charges were laid. At trial, the defence argument was one of self defence. One fact which the complainant had failed to include in her statement to police was that she had brandished a knife and threatened to stab Mr. L. immediately prior to him throwing the pot of water. When this was learned the crown case fell apart and our client left the Calgary Court Center with his charged dismissed.

Our client retained Mr. Wyman to represent him regarding domestic charges. During the course of an argument with his wife it was alleged that the client trashed the family home. The dispute purportedly involved Mr. I ripping the door from its hinges and throwing the television to the ground. It was also alleged that the incident occurred in front of the couples’ 2 young children, an aggravating factor. Mr. I was a professional engineer and avoiding a criminal record was imperative. Also, problematic for our client was the involvement of child and family services who at first wished to limit A’s access to his children. Mr. Wyman liaised with both CFS as well as the Crown’s office to navigate this prosecution. In the end, the client was able to successfully complete a counselling program that had been coordinated by our office. Once this had occurred Mr. Wyman was successful in having the charges withdrawn.

Mr. B had been involved in an argument with his girlfriend over the phone after she had come home from the bar. After attempting to calm her down, she refused to answer his calls or texts. As a result, he attended at her home and forced his way into the home. His intoxicated girlfriend came at him and a short physical altercation ensured. The neighbors called the police and soon thereafter our client was charged with Break and Enter and Assault. The consequences of a conviction for this serious indictable offence were considerable for our client, a third-year University student. Mr. Wyman entered not guilty pleas to the charges and set the matter down for trial. At trial, the truth about the incident came out and the charges against our client were dismissed.

The client and her wife were on vacation in British Columbia when an argument took place in their hotel room. Prior to this, they had enjoyed several bottles of wine. Another guest in the hotel contacted the authorities when they heard yelling. When the RCMP arrived, M’s wife alleged that she had been hit. That said, the girlfriend insisted that she did not wish to have charges laid. Despite these pleas, Ms. M. was charged with assault and retained our services as a result. Mr. Wyman was able to liaise with the assigned Crown and have the charges withdrawn in advance of the first court appearance.

Our client was charged with criminal harassment following a break up with his ex-girlfriend. It was alleged that the client texted and called the complainant hundreds of times over a number of days. It was also alleged that J. attended her place of work and left flowers on her car when she was not present. To compound matters, when the ex-girlfriend went to the police to report the harassment, she disclosed numerous incidents of domestic violence which resulted in further assault charges. Mr. S. was a successful business professional who simply could not have a criminal conviction. Mr. Wyman was able to negotiate a plea deal with Crown Counsel whereby all the domestic assault charges were dropped following a guilty plea to the Criminal Harassment charge. At sentencing, Mr. Wyman was able to persuade the presiding Judge to impose a conditional discharge. Such a sentence results in the client not receiving a criminal record.