Second degree murder
R. v. Alexander
- Below the Crown's ask
Sentence and the Crown's position
Both are life sentences, so the bars compare how long before parole can be considered.
What the law allows
Charlene Alexander was convicted after trial of second degree murder for fatally stabbing a woman in the courthouse plaza in downtown Prince George in July 2020. The Crown sought life imprisonment with parole ineligibility of 12 years. Justice Sharma imposed life imprisonment with the minimum 10 years of parole ineligibility, citing Alexander's lack of a criminal record, Gladue factors, her remorse and her rehabilitation since the offence.
In the judge's words
1We have to remember that Ms. Alexander is sentenced to the highest possible sentence we have in this country, which is life in prison. The issue before me is only the appropriate period of parole ineligibility. In my view, when we look at all those aims in s. 718, and take into account the submissions that have been made, it is appropriate that a 10‑year period of parole ineligibility is imposed.
The record
- Convicted of
- Second degree murder (CC 231(7))
- Prior convictions
- 0 prior convictions1
- At the time of the offence
- Not stated1
- Defence asked for
- Life, no parole for 10 years1
- Mandatory minimum
- Applied1
- Appeal
- Not yet checked
- Counsel
- Crown: T.G. Bauman
Defence: L.J. Helps
Sources
- R. v. Alexander, 2025 BCSC 2651 Court decision, CanLII, November 4, 2025
[24] The Crown's position is that there are aggravating circumstances that elevate the gravity of the offence to warrant a period of parole ineligibility to step one, meaning in the range of 12 to 15 years. … Given those factors the Crown submits the appropriate period of parole ineligibility is 12 years.
[25] Ms. Alexander submits the appropriate period is 10 years, emphasizing that does not guarantee she gets parole at that point.
[7] Section 235 of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, mandates that the sentence for second degree murder is life imprisonment with a period of parole ineligibility to be a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years.
[1] THE COURT: This is my judgment addressing the sentence for Charlene Alexander, whom I convicted of second degree murder last year: R. v. Alexander, 2024 BCSC 2491.
[28] There is no dispute that Ms. Alexander's lack of a criminal record is a mitigating factor that I must consider.
[75] We have to remember that Ms. Alexander is sentenced to the highest possible sentence we have in this country, which is life in prison. The issue before me is only the appropriate period of parole ineligibility. In my view, when we look at all those aims in s. 718, and take into account the submissions that have been made, it is appropriate that a 10‑year period of parole ineligibility is imposed.
[78] Ms. Alexander, I convicted you of second degree murder. You are sentenced to life imprisonment with a parole ineligibility period of 10 years.
- R. v. Alexander, 2025 BCSC 2651 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia