We're quarreling with the severity of the penalty on the facts. The Royal Prerogative in the Criminal Code allows a person convicted of murder to ask the cabinet for a full pardon or a reduced sentence. Carbon monoxide is the cause of both deaths. This is 19 days after Robert Latimer was convicted and at the height of the public outpouring of support for Mr. Latimer. The intervenors are only allowed to submit written arguments.
Defense lawyers argue for a three year suspended sentence.
There are five hours of legal argument. Latimer surrendered himself into custody for the appeal hearing but was released on bail at the end of the day. Chief Justice Edward Bayda argues in a dissenting decision that the sentence was too long despite the Criminal Code provisions. Justice Bayda saw the sentence as inconsistent with Latimer's rights under Section 12 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms . Latimer turns himself in to RCMP in Wilkie to begin serving his sentence.