JAIL NO ANSWER TO MAN'S HABITUAL CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR, COURT
TOLD

Jailing a man who has spent most of his adult life in prison will
serve no one, a defence lawyer argued Friday.

The better approach would be to give John Murrell, 33, the chance to
get some life skills and deal with addiction issues in a controlled
rehabilitative setting in the community, said defence lawyer Jeremy
Jensen.

Murrell pleaded guilty to a series of offences stemming from the last
time he was out of jail. As he has done every time he is not in
prison, the man got high on drugs and found trouble with the law.

In September 2008, Murrell led Kamloops police on a long chase in a
stolen vehicle that wound its way through Valleyview, Barnhartvale and
Juniper Ridge.

Murrell escaped police spike belts and roadblocks several times and
made it as far as Falkland before he lost control of the truck he was
driving and ended up in a ditch. He was apprehended by a police dog,
which kept a firm, painful grip on the man for several minutes before
officers arrived.

Murrell has been in custody since his arrest 18 months
ago.

The Crown asked the court to jail Murrell two more years on top of the
18 months he has already served.

"It's just so fortunate he didn't kill himself or kill others," said
prosecutor Neil Flanagan. "The driving was outrageous and showed a
complete disregard for the safety and welfare of others on the road."

Jensen said prison has done nothing for Murrell - why should anyone
expect it will help him now? Instead, the court should give Murrell an
opportunity he has never had, a shot at real counselling through a
residential rehabilitation program.

"He has become hopelessly institutionalized, and that's because he's
been incarcerated. He hasn't had a chance," the lawyer said.

"He's at a juncture."

Murrell has had a tough life, Jensen said. When he was five years old,
his six-year-old sister was abducted.

His mother went on an unsuccessful mission to find her missing child,
to the detriment of the rest of her family, Jensen said.

Murrell has been addicted to drugs and alcohol for a very long time,
and has never received counselling for his problems.

Jensen said it's possible counselling will turn Murrell around. If he
is able to deal with the issues from his youth that have plagued his
adulthood, he might be able to escape the drugs he hides behind.

"If we do not do that, at the end of his jail sentence, Mr. Murrell
will most likely find himself reoffending again," he said.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Hope Hyslop adjourned the sentencing,
saying she wants to hear from Murrell's probation officer before she
makes a decision.

The case will be back in court Monday.