Episode 5: His Majesty the King v. Harry Arthur Cope
His Majesty the King v. Harry Arthur Cope
Mr. Cope plead guilty to the aggravated assault of his common law partner. He had a significant criminal record, and a significant history of mental illness. Both he and his partner are Indigenous. The sentencing judge sentenced him to 5 years in custody for the aggravated assault, and eight months of custody for breaching the release orders he was subject to at the time of the aggravated assault on his partner.
At issue on appeal was the length of the sentence. Mr. Cope appealed the length of his sentenceand the majority of The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, and varied the length of the sentence to three years of custody for the aggravated assault. The dissenting justice would have allowed the leave to appeal, but would have dismissed the appeal, reasoning that the sentence imposed by the sentencing judge was fit and appropriate.