The B.C. Court of Appeal has reduced by four years the sentence for a Prince George man in prison for a violent crime spree.
Chad Douglas Berry will now serve 10 years less the time served prior to sentencing for a March 2010 tear that started with the the stabbing of two women in an Oak Street basement suite and ended with his arrest the next day near Vanderhoof following a police manhunt.
In November 2012, Berry was sentenced to 14 years, made up of consecutive terms of six years for two counts of aggravated assault and a further two years for a handful of other charges.
In passing the sentence, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Glen Parrett described Berry's actions as a "rampage with no regard for the rights or safety of others," and found his addiction to crystal methamphetamine was no excuse.
"Consumption of alcohol and drugs, while a factor to be considered, does not in any way justify an attack on individuals within their own home," Parrett said.
Counsel representing Berry launched an appeal, arguing the sentences should not be served consecutively because the incident amounted to "one criminal adventure."
In a decision issued Thursday, Appeals Court Justice Peter Willcock found Parrett did not err in imposing the six-year sentences for the assaults and ordering they be served consecutively.
However, Willcock also found that given Berry's age - he's now about 30 years old - the short sentences imposed for prior offences and the remaining prospect of rehabilitation, the term was still unduly long.
Berry had spent two years, eight months and eight days in custody prior to sentencing, meaning the remainder of his sentence from that point was reduced to seven years, three months and 22 days.
In October 2012, on the eve of a jury trial in B.C. Supreme Court in Prince George, he pleaded guilty to the two counts of aggravated assault against the two women with one of the charges reduced from aggravated sexual assault
Crown prosecution had been seeking a sentence of 16 years, consisting primarily of consecutive terms of seven years for the two aggravate assault counts while defence counsel was suggesting four to six years in total.
