Sentence Watch

Manslaughter with a firearm

R. v. Saundry

Crown asked10 years in custody1
Judge imposed10 years' imprisonment, less 1,968 days' credit (1,682 days remaining)1

What the law allows

MaximumLife imprisonment
Crown asked10 years in custody
Judge imposed10 years in custody
Defence asked10 years in custody
Minimum4 years
For manslaughter with a firearm (CC 236(a)), the Criminal Code currently allows up to life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of 4 years. Life is drawn at 25 years for scale. Read the section.

Lynda Elsie Saundry, charged with first degree murder, pleaded guilty during trial to manslaughter after fatally shooting her former domestic partner with a rifle in their shared home. Crown and defence jointly proposed 10 years' imprisonment. Justice Betton adopted the joint submission, imposing 10 years less 1,968 days' credit for pre-trial custody, finding it in keeping with the general range for like offences.

In the judge's words

I cannot say that the joint submission for 10 years is not in keeping with the general range of sentences for like offences and there is nothing in the facts or circumstances that have been placed before me that suggest that general range is inapplicable to this particular offence. In all of the circumstances I find the joint submission is a reasonable one that I should and do adopt.

1

The record

Convicted of
Prior convictions
0 prior convictions1
At the time of the offence
Not stated1
Defence asked for
10 years in custody1
Appeal
Not yet checked
Counsel
Crown: M.C. Treddenick, J. Park
Defence: D.M. Melville, E.M. Bolger

More cases by The Honourable Justice D. Allan Betton

  1. January 10, 2023
    R. v. D.R.L.A., 2023 BCSC 253Sexual interference; Luring a child, Salmon Arm
    • Below the Crown's ask
    30 months custody (1 year on child luring and 30 months on sexual interference, concurrent)
  2. January 6, 2023
    R. v. Main, 2023 BCSC 530Robbery; Break and enter a dwelling-house, Vernon
    • Below the Crown's ask
    Three years jail less 395 days' (13 months) pre-sentence credit, leaving 23 months, then 3 years probation; concurrent on both counts
  3. September 27, 2022
    R. v. Mitchell, 2022 BCSC 2321Possession of a Schedule I or II substance for the purpose of trafficking, Vernon
    3 years imprisonment
  4. April 29, 2022
    R. v. Moote, 2022 BCSC 1975Robbery, Vernon
    1,460 days (four years) less 829 days credit, leaving 631 days, then one year probation; lifetime s. 109 ban, DNA

All cases by The Honourable Justice D. Allan Betton (5)

More manslaughter with a firearm cases

  1. May 15, 2026
    R. v. Freeman, 2026 BCSC 998Second degree murder; Manslaughter with a firearm, Chilliwack. Justice Andrea L. Ormiston
    • Below the Crown's ask
    Life imprisonment, no parole for 10 years (second degree murder); 8 years concurrent for manslaughter
  2. May 8, 2026
    R. v. Steenbergen, 2026 BCSC 876Manslaughter with a firearm; Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, Sooke. Justice Jennifer M.I. Duncan
    • On release at the time
    4 years for manslaughter with a firearm (mandatory minimum), with 9 months and 6 months concurrent on two firearm possession counts
  3. April 9, 2026
    R. v. Cole, 2026 BCSC 1035Manslaughter with a firearm, Quesnel. Justice Marguerite H. Church
    • Below the Crown's ask
    5 years in custody; no pre-sentence custody credit
  4. April 1, 2026
    R. v. Delair, 2026 BCSC 880Manslaughter with a firearm; Robbery with a restricted or prohibited firearm; Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm; Discharging a restricted or prohibited firearm with intent, Maple Ridge. Justice Eric V. Gottardi
    15 years global custody, less 927 days credit for pre-trial custody (4,548 days remaining)

All manslaughter with a firearm cases (24)

More from the Supreme Court of British Columbia

  1. September 18, 2026
    R v Alves, 2026 BCSC 1792Possession of a Schedule I or II substance for the purpose of trafficking; Production of a Schedule I or II substance; Possession of anything for use in producing or trafficking a controlled substance, Maple Ridge. Justice Terence A. Schultes
    3 years' imprisonment on counts 1 and 2 and 2 years on count 3, concurrent
  2. September 15, 2026
    R. v. C.S.M., 2026 BCSC 1770Manslaughter, Coquitlam. Justice David M. Layton
    2 years and 99 days in custody, less 99 days credit (2 years remaining)
  3. September 11, 2026
    R. v. Dansereau, 2026 BCSC 1781Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm; Possession of a Schedule I or II substance for the purpose of trafficking; Possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order, Rossland. Justice Jacqueline D. Hughes
    5 years in custody (3.5 years firearm, concurrent 24 months drug, plus 1.5 years consecutive for breach of weapons prohibition), less 978 days credit
  4. September 11, 2026
    R v Stuart, 2026 BCSC 1783Aggravated assault, Vancouver. Justice Elin Sigurdson
    • Below the Crown's ask
    • No jail for a violent offence
    Two years less one day conditional sentence (201 days credited), followed by probation

All cases from the Supreme Court of British Columbia (520)

More cases in Vernon

  1. August 21, 2026
    R. v. Taylor, 2026 BCSC 1698Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm; Possession of a Schedule I or II substance for the purpose of trafficking. Justice Richard Hewson
    • Below the Crown's ask
    • On release at the time
    7 years in custody (4 years and 3 years concurrent for 2023 offences, 3 years consecutive for 2024 offence), less 6 days' credit
  2. June 15, 2026
    R. v. R.M.C., 2026 BCSC 1292Sexual interference. Justice Miriam A. Maisonville
    • Below the Crown's ask
    3 years in custody for sexual interference (sexual assault conditionally stayed)
  3. April 13, 2026
    R. v. Maxwell, 2026 BCSC 774Dangerous operation of a conveyance; Break and enter a dwelling-house; Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000; Disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence. Justice Gary P. Weatherill
    5 years custody (977 days credit, 848 days remaining); 12 months concurrent on each other count
  4. March 30, 2026
    R. v. D.C., 2026 BCSC 572Sexual assault. Justice Richard Fowler
    • Below the Crown's ask
    • On release at the time
    2 years imprisonment

All cases in Vernon (24)

Sources

  1. R. v. Saundry, 2024 BCSC 904 Court decision, CanLII, March 5, 2024[6] I have for my consideration a joint submission for a total sentence of 10 years incarceration.[6] I have for my consideration a joint submission for a total sentence of 10 years incarceration.[1] THE COURT: Lynda Elsie Saundry had been charged with first degree murder of … She has, after the commencement of the trial and with the consent of the Crown, entered a guilty plea to the offence of manslaughter of …[5] Ms. Saundry has no prior criminal record.[13] … I cannot say that the joint submission for 10 years is not in keeping with the general range of sentences for like offences and there is nothing in the facts or circumstances that have been placed before me that suggest that general range is inapplicable to this particular offence. In all of the circumstances I find the joint submission is a reasonable one that I should and do adopt.[14] And, accordingly, I will indicate that the effective sentence will be 10 years. That is the equivalent of 3,650 days, she will be given credit at the rate of 1.5 days for each day of pre‑trial custody for a total credit of 1,968 days, the balance remaining being 1,682 days.
  2. R. v. Saundry, 2024 BCSC 904 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia

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