Archie Billard
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Archie Billard | |
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| Born | October 14, 2004 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Habitual offender |
Archibald (Archie) Billard is a Canadian habitual offender whose crimes had a significant impact upon the justice and education systems of Nova Scotia, eventually resulting in the formation of the Nunn Commission.[1]
The Theresa McEvoy Incident
On October 14, 2004 Billard, then 16, stole a car in Lower Sackville Nova Scotia. After consuming large amounts of cannabis, Billard drove the car at a high rate of speed through downtown Halifax where he struck a vehicle driven by local teacher's aide Theresa McEvoy. The 52 year old mother of three died of her injuries.[2]
Billard was tried as an adult and in 2006 was sentenced to four years and ten months in prison.[3]
The Nunn Commission
The death of McEvoy happened at a time of increased concern about youth crime in Nova Scotia. In 2001 a train derailed in Stewiacke Nova Scotia, destroying a feed supply business and injuring twenty four people, nine seriously.[4] A 13 year old young offender later admitted to tampering with a railroad switch. In the investigation following McEvoy's death it was determined that Billard, though only 16, was already facing twenty-seven charges at the time he stole the car, and had been released from custody only two days earlier.[5] A public outcry about a perceived growing problem with youth crime lead to the formation of the Nunn Commission, a landmark public inquiry into Canada's youth criminal justice system.[6]
The commission recommended several changes to the youth justice and educational systems of Nova Scotia, all of which were accepted by the Provincial Government.[7]
After the McEvoy Incident
By June 2009 Billard was entitled to a statutory release, despite misgivings from the parole board that he was likely to re-offend. Four months later he was arrested for speeding in an unregistered vehicle his probation was revoked.[8] In February 2010 he was again released though his case management team described his risk as "unmanageable" and recommend against it.[9] He again broke his conditions, and again returned to prison. In 2011 he was sentenced to nine months in prison for driving while prohibited and violating his conditions.[10] In 2015 he was charged with robbing a gas station in Truro Nova Scotia.[11] Billard's case continues to be a focus of discussion in Nova Scotia politics in relation to issues of youth justice, restorative justice, and education.[12] [13]
References
- ↑ "The Nunn Commission". Government of Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "Teen convicted in car crash death of Halifax woman gets day parole". CBC News.
- ↑ "Teen convicted in car crash death of Halifax woman gets day parole". CBC News.
- ↑ "Teen faces victims of N.S. train wreck". CBC News. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ↑ "N.S. Premier wants teens gone wild to pay". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ↑ "Teen convicted in car crash death of Halifax woman gets day parole". CBC News.
- ↑ "The Nunn Commission". The Government of Nova Scotia.
- ↑ "Teen convicted in car crash death of Halifax woman gets day parole". CBC News. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "Archie Billard paroled despite "unmanageable" risk". Halifax City News. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ↑ "Archie Billard sentenced to 9 months". CTV News.
- ↑ "Man charged in Truro gas station robbery". SaltWire News.
- ↑ "At-risk kids ill-served by Nova Scotia". Saltwire Media. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
- ↑ "The RCMP repeatedly shows a reckless disregard for public safety". The Halifax Examiner.
External links
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