A Vancouver Canucks fan jumps from a police car that was overturned by rioters following the Canucks defeat by the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final in Vancouver on June 15, 2011.Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
B.C.'s criminal justice branch is looking to appeal the sentences of two convicted Stanley Cup rioters.
Alexander Peepre, who pleaded guilty to participating in a riot and assault, was sentenced last month to 60 days in jail, to be served on weekends, and 15 months probation. The Crown had sought a jail term of nine months.
Lincoln Kennedy-Williams, who pleaded guilty to participating in a riot, was handed the same sentence last month. The Crown had sought a jail term of six months for Mr. Kennedy-Williams.
The Crown will ask the sentences of both men to be increased, according to a news release issued Friday.
The branch would not provide further details regarding specifics of the cases, but in describing the review of two others – and the Crown's decision not to appeal those sentences – shed some light on the reasoning.
"The Crown cannot file an appeal from sentence simply because it disagrees with the outcome of a particular case," the news release stated. "Judges have broad discretion at sentencing and in the absence of the Crown being able to show a legal error that resulted in a demonstrably unfit sentence ... it is unlikely that an appeal court would vary the sentence and impose something that is more stringent."
The two other cases reviewed were those of Camille Cacnio, who received a suspended sentence followed by two years probation, and Sean Burkett, who received a three-month conditional sentence followed by 12 months probation.
To date, Vancouver police have recommended 872 charges against 275 people in connection with last year's Stanley Cup riot. The Criminal Justice Branch has approved charges against 156 people so far.
Andrea Woo