Pubdate: Fri, 22 Nov 2002
Source: Halifax Herald (CN NS)
Copyright: 2002 The Halifax Herald Limited
Contact:  http://www.herald.ns.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180
Author: C. Burton Coutts

SENTENCE SENSIBLE

On Nov. 2, it was reported that the Appeal Court of Nova Scotia had found 
an April decision of Judge Felix Cacchione to be "clearly inadequate and 
excessively lenient." Well, I don't think so.

This case has been in the press since 1999. Judge Cacchione must have found 
that the accused was non-violent and evidently reformed since charged by 
the RCMP. He is reported as married, with a wife and child, steadily 
employed and a contributing member of society. There's no sense in sending 
him to prison, putting his wife and child on welfare and costing the system 
a reported $80,000 annually for incarceration. A sentence of 18 months of 
house arrest with conditions was imposed.

We have daily reports of extreme violence on our streets and in our homes: 
shooting, stabbing, rape and violence against children; the strong 
oppressing the weak. We are awash with hard drugs like heroin, cocaine and 
crack.

This appears to be a further instance of a prosecution service in disarray 
and a possible miscarriage of justice. Furthermore, why was the accused 
permitted to represent himself against an adversarial prosecutor and before 
the Appeal Court? Why was he not provided with competent and professional 
representation?

The public good is not being served.

I trust Judge Cacchione will continue to dispense his sensible decisions in 
such cases.

C. Burton Coutts,

Halifax
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