Perjury
R. v. Hupe
Sentence and the Crown's position
A conditional sentence is served in the community, usually under house arrest. It counts as no custody here.
What the law allows
Sarah Anne Hupe pleaded guilty to perjury for false testimony she gave as a key witness at a 2019 manslaughter trial. The Crown and defence jointly proposed a conditional sentence of two years less a day. Justice L. Bennett accepted the joint submission and imposed a two-year-less-a-day conditional sentence with six months of house arrest followed by a curfew, citing her Indigenous background, lack of a criminal record, guilty plea and rehabilitation.
In the judge's words
1I reach this conclusion because at the end of the day, and despite the seriousness of this charge, I find myself satisfied that, for this particular accused, the joint submission is appropriate. The joint submission contains reasonable restrictions on Ms. Hupe's liberty, while giving Ms. Hupe the opportunity to demonstrate her commitment and dedication to the rehabilitative process.
The record
Sources
- R. v. Hupe, 2026 BCSC 1240 Court decision, CanLII, April 28, 2026
[2] Crown and defence come before me with a joint submission on sentencing. The joint submission being that Ms. Hupe should be sentenced to a conditional sentence order ("CSO") for a period of two years less a day.
[2] Crown and defence come before me with a joint submission on sentencing. The joint submission being that Ms. Hupe should be sentenced to a conditional sentence order ("CSO") for a period of two years less a day.
[1] THE COURT: Sarah Anne Hupe is before me for sentencing after pleading guilty today to Count 2 on Indictment 113816-2.
[12] Ms. Hupe comes before the court with no prior criminal record and has also re-established herself with a strong family support network, some of whom are present in court with her today.
I reach this conclusion because at the end of the day, and despite the seriousness of this charge, I find myself satisfied that, for this particular accused, the joint submission is appropriate. The joint submission contains reasonable restrictions on Ms. Hupe's liberty, while giving Ms. Hupe the opportunity to demonstrate her commitment and dedication to the rehabilitative process.
[40] I am sentencing you on Indictment 113816-2 and Count 2 to a conditional sentence of two years less a day.
- Criminal Code, s. 132 Record, Justice Laws Website
- R. v. Hupe, 2026 BCSC 1240 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia