Accused convicted after trial of offences including kidnapping and personating a police officer. Victim had previously been charged with refusal to provide a breath sample where an accident had caused the death of a young boy. Accused (and others) attended at the victim’s residence at night dressed as police officers. Upon opening the door, the victim was grabbed, taken to a remote area, and his thumb was cut off.
Held: 12 years jail.
33 year old accused with lengthy record. Kidnapping case law reviewed. Aggravating factors included: the degree of planning, dressing as police officers, abducting the victim from his home, the degree of violence and injury caused, and the motive being vigilantism.
P. Moreau – Defence Counsel