Reckless discharge of a firearm, Aggravated assault, Assault by choking, suffocating or strangling, Forcible confinement, Uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, Pointing a firearm
R. v. D.D.S.
A publication ban applies. The offender is not named.
- Below the Crown's ask
Sentence and the Crown's position
What the law allows
The offender pleaded guilty to pointing a shotgun, two counts of reckless discharge of a firearm, uttering death threats, assault by choking, aggravated assault and unlawful confinement, all committed in one domestic incident at a home in the Yarmouth area in February 2024. The Crown sought nine to 10 years; the defence sought three years. Justice Muise found 11 years fit for the individual offences but reduced the global sentence to eight years for totality and restraint, less 1,232 days of remand credit.
In the judge's words
1In the circumstances of the case at hand 11 years imprisonment would exceed a just and appropriate sentence. Therefore, the overall sentence is to be reduced.
The record
- Convicted of
- Reckless discharge of a firearm (CC 244.2, 2 counts)
- Aggravated assault (CC 268)
- Assault by choking, suffocating or strangling (CC 267(c))
- Forcible confinement (CC 279(2))
- Uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm (CC 264.1(1)(a))
- Pointing a firearm (CC 87)
- Prior convictions
- 0 prior convictions1
- At the time of the offence
- Not stated1
- Defence asked for
- 3 years in custody1
- Appeal
- Not yet checked
- Counsel
- Crown: Chelsea Cottreau
Defence: Peter Mancini, KC
Sources
- R. v. D.D.S., 2026 NSSC 149 Court decision, CanLII, April 17, 2026
[11] This would amount to a total global sentence of 12 to 13 years imprisonment. However, the Crown suggests a reduction in the overall sentence to one of 9 to 10 years imprisonment, less remand credit.
[17] This would amount to a total global sentence of three years which, considering the Summers remand credit, slightly exceeds the time served already.
[2] There are no minimum penalties.
[76] … • He has no prior criminal record.
[126] In the circumstances of the case at hand 11 years imprisonment would exceed a just and appropriate sentence. Therefore, the overall sentence is to be reduced.
[127] Considering all of the circumstances, and applying the principle of restraint, I conclude that a just and appropriate sentence is a total of 8 years’ imprisonment. … [129] As noted, considering Summers credit, the offender has already served the equivalent of 1,232 days remand time. … [130] Therefore, the resultant global sentence is 1,688 days or 4 years and 226 days (which can be rounded to 4 years, 7 months and 14 days).
- R. v. D.D.S., 2026 NSSC 149 Court decision, Courts of Nova Scotia