medpot
09-09-2008, 05:49 AM
The Globe and Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080909.BCACQUITTED09/TPStory/National)
Letter to Editor (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/feedback/?form=lettersToTheEditorForm&articleHeadline=Woman+acquitted+after+trying+to+st ab+Mountie+while+high)
CRIME
Woman acquitted after trying to stab Mountie while high
The Canadian Press
September 9, 2008
A woman who was shot by a Prince Rupert RCMP officer after lunging at him with a pair of scissors has been acquitted of all charges.
Maya Sanford was shot by Corporal Richard Van De Pol on Sept. 29, 2006, after she showed up at a convenience store high on marijuana, believing her life was in danger.
Ms. Sanford, who was 23 at the time, faced charges of mischief, assault with a weapon, attempting to disarm a police officer and assaulting a police officer.
She pleaded self-defence, and Judge Agnes Krantz of the Provincial Court agreed.
She ruled self-defence can be claimed even if the accused's perception was wrong.
She said that what Ms. Sanford believed at the time was critical to determining whether her actions were warranted.
"It would appear that Ms. Sanford believed that not only was there somebody trying to kill her but that other people were in on a conspiracy of some nature to do her harm," Judge Krantz said in her written ruling.
Court heard that Ms. Sanford had smoked pot from an "ice bong" with several people at a residence, and that she immediately became antsy and paranoid before ending up at the convenience store.
Cpl. Van De Pol testified he tried unsuccessfully to calm Ms. Sanford down and shot her in the abdomen after she attacked him.
An expert witness told the court that Ms. Sanford's behaviour could have been similar to psychosis from frequent and repeated marijuana use.
In her ruling, Judge Krantz said several witnesses testified about Ms. Sanford's altered state of mind and that the woman appeared to have attacked the officer in an effort because she believed he was part of a plot against her.
Letter to Editor (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/feedback/?form=lettersToTheEditorForm&articleHeadline=Woman+acquitted+after+trying+to+st ab+Mountie+while+high)
CRIME
Woman acquitted after trying to stab Mountie while high
The Canadian Press
September 9, 2008
A woman who was shot by a Prince Rupert RCMP officer after lunging at him with a pair of scissors has been acquitted of all charges.
Maya Sanford was shot by Corporal Richard Van De Pol on Sept. 29, 2006, after she showed up at a convenience store high on marijuana, believing her life was in danger.
Ms. Sanford, who was 23 at the time, faced charges of mischief, assault with a weapon, attempting to disarm a police officer and assaulting a police officer.
She pleaded self-defence, and Judge Agnes Krantz of the Provincial Court agreed.
She ruled self-defence can be claimed even if the accused's perception was wrong.
She said that what Ms. Sanford believed at the time was critical to determining whether her actions were warranted.
"It would appear that Ms. Sanford believed that not only was there somebody trying to kill her but that other people were in on a conspiracy of some nature to do her harm," Judge Krantz said in her written ruling.
Court heard that Ms. Sanford had smoked pot from an "ice bong" with several people at a residence, and that she immediately became antsy and paranoid before ending up at the convenience store.
Cpl. Van De Pol testified he tried unsuccessfully to calm Ms. Sanford down and shot her in the abdomen after she attacked him.
An expert witness told the court that Ms. Sanford's behaviour could have been similar to psychosis from frequent and repeated marijuana use.
In her ruling, Judge Krantz said several witnesses testified about Ms. Sanford's altered state of mind and that the woman appeared to have attacked the officer in an effort because she believed he was part of a plot against her.