The Supreme Court of Canada is set to review a case involving a man sentenced to house arrest for illegal handgun possession. Terrell Burke-Whittaker found himself in a dramatic situation at a Toronto restaurant in June 2020 when shots were fired by someone in a parked car nearby. In response, Burke-Whittaker fired a shot towards the vehicle before fleeing the scene. He later surrendered to the authorities and admitted to the charge of illegal firearm possession under the Criminal Code.
Despite the seriousness of the offense, an Ontario judge took into account Burke-Whittaker’s expressions of regret and attempts to make positive changes in his life. Consequently, he was given a conditional sentence of two years, less a day, to be followed by three years of probation with strict terms. The decision was upheld by the majority of the Ontario Court of Appeal, which highlighted the progress Burke-Whittaker had made during his conditional sentence and argued that incarcerating him at that point might hinder his rehabilitation efforts.
This development has garnered attention and will now be scrutinized by the Supreme Court of Canada, indicating the significance of the case in the legal landscape.