‘Systemic issue’ delays sentencing
Crown, defence lawyers that justice system is plagued by government staff is contacting victims for impact statements at last minute, leaving sufficient time to prepare, submit them
Lawyers lamented the need to delay a robbery sentencing Friday, complaining that staff with the province’s victim-services branch left requests for victim-impact statements to the last minute - again.
Brett Edward Francis, 43, of no fixed address but formerly of Bilijk (Kingsclear) First Nation, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Friday by video conference from the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre.
He was scheduled to be sentenced for 17 crimes he committed earlier this year - including a March 24 armed robbery at the Bilijk First Nation’s Wulastukw Casino and Lounge - and court heard the Crown and defence had a joint recommendation on sentence to present to the court.
But there was a problem, said prosecutor Cathleen Trafton: it appeared some of the victims weren’t given sufficient opportunity to submit victim-impact statements.