CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A Stratford man who was in P.E.I. despite a court order to stay in Alberta where he was facing criminal charges was recently given 30 days of house arrest.
George Roy Enman Murray, 54, appeared before Chief Judge Jeff Lantz in provincial court in Charlottetown where he pleaded guilty to breaching a release order.
Crown attorney Jeff MacDonald told the court Murray was facing charges in Medicine Hat and was on a recognizance with a condition that he stay in Alberta unless he had permission from the court.
MacDonald said that on Oct. 26, Charlottetown police performing a traffic stop did a check that found Murray didn’t have permission to leave Alberta.
Defence lawyer Alex Dalton said the charges in Alberta related to allegations of domestic assault.
Dalton asked for Murray to be able to serve his sentence for the breach charge in the community because he has a teenage son he needs to care for.
Before hearing his sentence, Murray addressed the court and said he has been trying to make arrangements to deal with the matters in Alberta.
Murray also said he has been doing well over the last few years.
“I’ve really cleaned my life up,” he said.
Lantz said Murray has been in breach of the court order since he left Alberta, and he needs to deal with the charges there or he will continue to be in breach.
Murray will be under house arrest as part of a conditional sentence that includes a requirement he stay in his home unless he has permission to leave.
He must also wear an electronic monitoring bracelet as directed.
Ryan Ross is The Guardian's justice reporter.
