Supreme Court of Canada to Review House Arrest Sentence in Toronto Shooting Case

Canada's Supreme Court will examine whether a conditional sentence for illegal handgun possession was too lenient. Terrell Burke-Whittaker fired at a vehicle during a 2020 Toronto shooting incident.

Supreme Court to Weigh House Arrest Ruling in Toronto Gun Case

Canada's Supreme Court will review the sentence of a man who received house arrest for illegal handgun possession following a 2020 shooting incident in Toronto, Eyewitness News Bahamas reports.

Terrell Burke-Whittaker was present at a Toronto restaurant in June 2020 when an individual in a parked car opened fire into a lot behind the building. Burke-Whittaker drew a handgun from a satchel and discharged a single shot in the direction of the vehicle before fleeing the scene.

He surrendered to police following an investigation and later pleaded guilty to a Criminal Code charge of illegal firearm possession. An Ontario judge, citing Burke-Whittaker's remorse and steps taken toward rehabilitation, imposed a conditional sentence of two years less a day, followed by three years' probation under strict conditions.

The Crown appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. A majority of the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, noting that Burke-Whittaker had already served a significant portion of his conditional sentence and that incarcerating him at that stage would jeopardise his rehabilitation progress.

The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear the Crown's case.

Source: Eyewitness News Bahamas