(Ottawa) The Ontario Court of Appeal has dismissed a sentencing appeal in the case of a Manitoba man who smashed through the gates on the grounds of Rideau Hall in 2020 and sought an armed confrontation with the Prime Minister .
A decision dated Thursday says the six-year sentence given to Corey Hurren in March 2021, less one year for time he served in custody prior to his conviction, was “fully appropriate”.
Corey Hurren, a butcher who served as a reservist for the Canadian Armed Forces, had pleaded guilty to seven weapons-related charges and one mischief charge for his actions on the morning of July 2, 2020.
With his truck, he smashed through the gate of the pedestrian entrance to the grounds of Rideau Hall, where both the Governor General and the Prime Minister live, and walked away with three loaded firearms and a knife before to engage in a 90-minute standoff with Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers.
Corey Hurren, who was 46 at the time, told officers he was there to arrest Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and was angry about COVID-19 restrictions and recent amendments to the laws on fire arms.
The Court of Appeal said the sentencing judge was correct in concluding that Mr. Hurren’s crimes “demanded a denunciation in the strongest terms” and a sentence that would deter others from engaging in misdeeds. similar conduct.
Mr Hurren’s lawyer had argued that the sentencing judge had failed to pay sufficient attention to mental health issues which allegedly played a part in his motive for committing the offences.
But the judges said there was no error in the way the judge considered a psychologist’s diagnosis of Mr Hurren in his sentencing decision.
Ultimately, this judge found that Mr. Hurren’s political views were the most important factor in his decision to arm up and travel to Ottawa.
“The sentencing judge made no error in describing the appellant’s conduct as an ‘armed assault on the government,'” reads the decision released Thursday.
“Regardless of one’s political views, it is simply not acceptable in Canada to arm oneself with any type of weapon to express those views or one’s displeasure with the government. The appellant’s conduct not only posed mortal danger to himself and others, but also threatened Canadian values. An exemplary sentence was in order. »
Corey Hurren is to remain incarcerated for another three years. He is also prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition or explosive substances for the rest of his life.