R. v. Hall Date:, 2011 BCPC 457

Citation: R. v. Hall Date: 20111216 2011 BCPC 0457 File Nos: 185483-1, 185357-3-C Registry: Surrey IN THE PROVINCIAL COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA REGINA v. CRAIG DORLAND ROBERT HALL ORAL REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE HONOURABLE JUDGE K.W. BALL Counsel for the Crown: P. Beirne Counsel for the Defendant: N. Dunbar Place of Hearing: Surrey , B.C. Date of Hearing: December 16, 2011 Date of Judgment: December 16, 2011

[ 1 ] THE COURT : Craig Dorland Robert Hall is before the court today on an indictment which alleges 11 counts of criminal charges, ten of which involve Mr. Hall, and I am satisfied, based on facts proven beyond a reasonable doubt set out below, that Mr. Hall is guilty as charged on all of those counts. THE FACTS [ 2 ] Briefly, with respect to the latter counts, that is Counts 8, 9, 10 and 11, I find as fact, Mr. Hall drove a Honda motor vehicle to a location in front of a Subway store in Surrey in the mid morning.

Surveillance video at that location shows him leaving the Honda and walking into Subway clutching a mask to his face; the mask was a bandana. He entered the store with an accomplice. The accomplice was brandishing a large machete with one sharp-looking edge and one deeply-serrated edge. The accused, according to the evidence of Ms. Mehat, the clerk in the store whose evidence I accept, demanded money, all the while holding a firearm. In this case the firearm was exhibited and proven to be a restricted prohibited weapon, a sawed-off rifle. The weapon was pointed at Ms.

Mehat by the accused in a clearly threatening manner, although held close to the body of this accused. [ 3 ] The proprietor of the Subway store, hearing the commotion in the front of his store, left his office and threw a stainless steel food container in the direction of the accused, who was then leaning over the counter and trying to open a cash drawer, without success. Once the stainless steel food container was thrown, Mr.

Hall and his accomplice ran from the store. [ 4 ] On the facts as I have recited them above, and the evidence which I heard, as well as the submissions of counsel, I am satisfied that the Crown has proven that Counts 8, 9, 10 and 11 have each been proven beyond a reasonable doubt and the accused is guilty on each of those counts. SECOND INCIDENT [ 5 ] The following facts are found proven. The accused left Subway, re-entered his car, and drove directly to a cold beer and wine store a short distance north of the Subway. The cold beer and wine store is attached to a pub known as the Hook and Ladder Pub.

There the accused alone advanced into the store with the sawed-off rifle held close to his body, but nonetheless pointed towards the cashier. He demanded money from the cashier, which she gave him, and then with one hand holding the firearm pointing at the cashier, demanded a bottle of liquor and motioned for that bottle with his other hand. Both the money, including specially marked bills, and the bottle of liquor were given to the accused by the cashier.

The money, including the specially marked bills, and the bottle of liquor were later found in the vehicle driven by the accused at the time of his arrest. [ 6 ] Once the accused left the parking lot of the Hook and Ladder Pub in his vehicle, a car chase ensued which involved dangerous driving described by several police officers, including the accused driving across centre lines into oncoming traffic, and other acts of driving which were clearly aberrant, and dangerous to the public. [ 7 ] Based on the evidence which I heard and which I have briefly recited, Counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt against Mr.

Hall. I find him guilty as charged on each count. (REASONS FOR JUDGMENT CONCLUDED)