By CKPG Today

Court

Man who shot multiple rounds at Vanderhoof RCMP detachment has sentence cut in half

Oct 23, 2024 | 8:18 AM

VANDERHOOF — The Vanderhoof man who fired shots at the town’s RCMP detachment three years ago has had his 10-year prison sentence cut in half.

Last November, Paul Russell was acquited of attempted murder but was sentenced to 8-and-a-half years for unlawful discharge of a firearm and mischief endangering life and a year-and-a-half for fleeing police in connection with a shooting that occurred on November 25, 2021.

RCMP at the time said Russell fired multiple rounds at the RCMP detachment and police vehicles. There were over a dozen employees working at the detachment when the shooting occurred. No one was injured.

In B.C.’s Court of Appeal, Russell’s lawyers pointed out that he was a 36-year-old first-time offender when those offences were committed.

His lawyers also argued that evidence was presented “that the appellant had experienced psychotic episodes in the time leading up to the offences. The appellant contends the judge materially erred in the determination of a fit sentence in two ways: (1) by failing to afford sufficient weight to mitigating factors including the appellant’s mental illness; and (2) by imposing a sentence that was demonstrably unfit.”

Cougars

Ravensbergen prepares for CHL USA Prospect Challenge

8h ago

CNC plans for disruptions

9h ago

IWAU organizers remember Day of Remembrance

10h ago

The court decided to allow the appeal. In it’s judgement, the court said: “The judge committed two errors in principle that impacted the sentence: (1) failing to afford sufficient weight to the appellant’s mental illness after finding the appellant’s mental illness attenuated his moral culpability; and (2) fixing an “upper range” based on an incorrect proportionality assessment.”