Michael Standingready, represented by legal aid, appeared by television, from the Regina Correctional Centre, before the Estevan court, at its regular sitting on April 4. Standingready pled not guilty to charges of assault with a weapon, assault and confinement. He also faces another count of assault and a number of breeches of undertaking, all to be spoken to at a later date.
The matter was adjourned to May 19, for the other charges against Standingready to be spoken to.
Gordon Wells was sentenced to a conditional discharge with probation, in response to a domestic disturbance that took place in February.
The Crown stated that a 911 call was made from a residence in Bienfait and the phone was dropped. It was reported that sounds of a violent incident could be heard over the phone.
The Crown said Wells was intoxicated at the time, and had returned to his home “in a rage,” behaving in a violent manner towards family members, pushing over a fridge and smashing things. He subsequently apologized and retired to his room where police, responding to the incident, found him.
The Crown recommended that in light of the mild nature of the offence, that Wells be given a conditional discharge.
Wells’ lawyer said that Wells has taken the initiative in getting help for his problems, and is enrolled in Alcoholics Anonymous and counselling for anger management. Wells stated to presiding Judge Kenn Bellerose and to the court, that he was sorry. Wells said he is taking a thorough approach to seeking assistance, doing a 12-step program and regularly attending counselling.
In addition to the sentencing, a no contact order for the complainants was lifted, and Wells was also ordered to pay a victim fine surcharge of $100.
Simon Mulhall was fined $2,500 and placed on a year’s probation, after pleading guilty to a single count for production of cannabis.
The charge against Mulhall was made following a police search of a Lampman residence, carried out on a warrant. Police discovered a greenhouse-type enclosure with materials used in the growing of cannabis; they also found plant fragments.
The Crown said it wasn’t Mulhall’s first offence, but that it was the first drug coviction, and the first he had committed in a long time, with the last offence occurring in 2007. A legal aid lawyer representing Mulhall told the court that his client, a resident of British Columbia, suffers from manic depression and bipolar disorder, and uses prescription marijuana to help with his conditions.
Legal aid explained that Mulhall and his fiancée came to Saskatchewan from British Columbia to look after the latter’s mother, who’d broken her leg and needed assistance. While in Saskatchewan, Mulhall was not able to access the prescription marijuana he could, back in British Columbia, and resorted to growing his own.
Mulhall, a truck driver, will be returning to BC to work, stated legal aid.
Bellerose acknowledged that Mulhall had a criminal record in the late ‘90s and that it appeared that his use of medicinial marijuana has helped keep his record clean since then. Bellerose said that despite the usefulness of the medicinal marijuana, it was illegal to do what Mulhall did, and there are laws in place that were violated.
