Property owners across Canada scored a moral victory in a southern Alberta courtroom as charges were withdrawn against a man who was defending his home during an invasion.
Joe Singleton, from Taber, seriously injured a fleeing home invader with the blunt end of a hatchet after he discovered a break-in at his acreage over a year ago.
Singleton and his wife came home to find a robbery in progress and Singleton struck one of the intruders in the face as the man was driving away.
On Tuesday, assault charges were withdrawn against Singleton after the 46-year old completed conditions of an alternative measures program.
Singleton wasn't in court, but his lawyer says the Taber acreage owner is extremely gratified and pleased that all charges against him have been withdrawn by the crown.
"We're somewhat disappointed that it took this period of time, and that Mr. Singleton had to go through what he did to get to this point, but quite frankly we're very happy with the result and very happy to walk out of here today, with all charges, of every nature against Mr. Singleton being withdrawn," said lawyer, Doug Carle.
Carle says that the law states that a homeowner must catch the individual in the actual act of committing the offence before he's justified to use force to obtain a criminal offence.
"In this particular incidence, Mr. Singleton realizes fully and takes responsibility for the fact that he didn't actually catch this individual in the act, but had more than strong and reasonable grounds to believe this individual was involved," said Carle.
The act in the Criminal Code is currently under review, and Doug Carle is hoping it will be changed so others don't face these kinds of charges in the first place.
Carle says the court case has taken a toll on his client who has never had a run in with the law before.
Singleton will not have a criminal record now that the charges have been dropped.
