Miscellaneous Recent Cases Cases

Our client was charged with second degree murder following an incident that took place in a Calgary house party. It was alleged that the client got into an argument with a woman which then led to blows. The cause of death was blunt force trauma. Following the incident, the client fled and was involved in a carjacking. Police intervened and a high-speed chase ensured. Our client was facing more than 15 years in prison for this incident. The charges were being dealt with by various Prosecution offices throughout the process. In the end, a plea bargain was reached whereby the client would plead guilty to the included offence of Manslaughter as well as a handful of less serious offences in relation to the carjacking. This resolution likely spared our client a decade in jail.

Mr. K. was a Calgary businessman who was charged with the offence of disseminating intimate images. This is a relatively new criminal code offence which makes it illegal to send or publish a partner’s sexual images. Following a night of drinking, our client sent a common friend a sexual video of his ex-girlfriend. The friend forwarded it to his ex which resulted in the charges. The case law suggests that jail should be imposed even if the accused has no criminal record. That said, Mr. Wyman was able to broker a resolution whereby the client received a conditional discharge. This result allowed Mr. K. to navigate this incident without a criminal record.

Our client was charged first degree murder because of an incident that arose at a rural New Year’s Eve party. It was alleged that the client and his co-accused attended the house party, beat and kidnapped the deceased in their truck. The victim was subsequently found a week later by RCMP in a forested area. The matter proceeded to a Preliminary Inquiry where we were successful in persuading the presiding Judge to not commit the client to stand trial for first degree murder. In the weeks leading up to trial, our office was able to convince the Crown to accept a plea to the lesser included offence of manslaughter, thereby sparing the client a lifetime sentence.

Our client was 22 years old with no criminal record. She was working out of Fort McMurray and went to Canmore with her boyfriend during her days off. After dinner, an argument ensued and she got out of her boyfriend’s truck. After exiting, she saw an RCMP member attempt to conduct a traffic stop. Her boyfriend took off and ultimately caused a major collision. When she arrived at the scene, she made the foolish decision to take off her boyfriend’s license plate. Police stopped her in the act and charged her with obstruction of Justice. While there is a significant risk of jail for such offences, our office was able to work with Crown counsel and negotiate a resolution whereby the client received a 6-month Conditional Discharge. This was a favorable result given that C avoided a criminal record.

A former client, Mr. B again retained our services to deal with and assault and mischief to property charge out of Canmore. After emerging from a local supermarket, Mr. B. observed a man getting into his car and throw some litter on the ground. Mr. B. rightfully challenged this fellow and demanded that he pick up the trash and place it one of the numerous trash cans. The man refused and our client struck the motorist and broke off his side mirror. Our office was able to negotiate a resolution with Crown Counsel whereby our client made a charitable donation and avoided a criminal record.

This matter was a case of mistaken identity. Our client was arrested in Edmonton after it was revealed that he had outstanding warrants in Calgary. Mr. D had no idea what the charges related to and as such retained our services. It was alleged that D. had been arrested in Calgary in relation to several possession of stolen property counts. The person arrested was in fact our client’s brother who had provided D’s name after committing the offence. When the brother never showed up for court, arrest warrants issued. Defence gave what’s known as alibi notice to Crown counsel. This notice detailed that the client was in fact in Edmonton at the time of the offence and offered corroborative evidence in the form of witness statements and telephone records to prove it. The Crown’s case folded quickly thereafter.