Crown seeking 3-month sentence for RNC Const. Joe Smyth - Action News
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Crown seeking 3-month sentence for RNC Const. Joe Smyth

Smyth was found guilty of obstructing justice in February.

Smyth's lawyer is appealing the obstruction of justice conviction

Const. Joe Smyth sits in provincial court for his sentencing hearing Thursday. (Mark Quinn/ CBC)

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Const. Joe Smythwill have to wait to hear a judge's decision about his sentencing for obstruction of justice.

Smyth, 40, was found guilty in February. On Thursday,Judge Mike Madden said he would not be delivering a decision on sentencing, and instead Smyth will be back inprovincial court on April 30.

The Crown is looking for a sentence of three months, which could be served in the community, with lawyer Lloyd Strickland saying Smyth'spost-traumatic stress disorderdiagnosis should be taken into account.

Jerome Kennedy, Smyth's defence lawyer, said his client has maintained his innocence, and reminded Madden that an appeal of the conviction has already been filed.

In the meantime, Kennedy is seeking a discharge or conditional sentence for his client.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association previously said it "strongly disagrees" with the decision from judge Mike Madden, and would support Smyth through an appeal.

Appeal of conviction

On Mar 14, Kennedy filed a notice ofappeal of Smyth's conviction. It's asking that the appeal be allowed. It's also seeking a new trial or an acquittal for Smyth.

Defence lawyer Jerome Kennedy is representing Smyth in court. (Mark Quinn/ CBC)

Kennedy gave a number of grounds for the appeal, including,"The trial judge erred in finding the Crown had proven the required specific intent beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial judge did not properly consider the applicant's testimony at trial and, the trial judge improperly used the video evidence."

Motorcycle pulled over two years ago

In May 2017, Smyth pulled over motorcyclist Sayed Husaini and issued four traffic tickets, including one for running a red light.

But video from a camera mounted on Husaini's motorcycle which was played on the first day of trial back in January showed the light was green when Husaini drove through it.

All the tickets were dropped and Smyth was later charged with obstruction of justice after the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team investigated.

Smyth has been suspended without pay since July, when he was charged.

He wasthe subject of a public inquiryafter he fatally shot injured worker Don Dunphy in April 2015.

The inquiry found he responded with appropriate force in self-defence when he killed Dunphy.

Kennedy's notice of appealis scheduled to be heard in June.

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

With files from Mark Quinn