Irene Garnett, who was visiting Nanaimo from the interior in April of last year, agreed to a peace bond in court to avoid a potential assault conviction for initiating the confrontation.

By Ian Holmes

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Confused cab passenger admits to threatening Nanaimo taxi driver

Jul 18, 2020 | 11:30 AM

NANAIMO — An out-of-control cab passenger avoided an assault charge for initiating a confrontation after she couldn’t recall where her Nanaimo hotel was located.

Irene Garnett agreed to the lesser offence of a year-long peace bond following the April 5, 2019 incident in which court heard the frustrated AC Taxi customer blew a fuse.

“Ms. Garnett did not have either have the acuity at the time or the information to provide exactly where that hotel was,” Crown prosecutor Nick Barber told court, who said an argument ensued during the ride.

Court was told Garnett, a 50-year-old Princeton woman, appeared to be intoxicated.

She got out of the taxi, only to return and grab the driver’s cell phone and began threatening him.

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“I’m not sure the exact cause of why she did that, obviously she was upset about how the taxi ride unfolded,” Barber said.

Garnett was cooperative when police attended, Barber said.

She was ordered to keep the peace, and not have any contact with the victim or AC Taxi over the next year.

The sentencing hearing overseen by judge Karen Whonnock was conducted on Thursday, July 16 in provincial court in Nanaimo.

Garnett attended the hearing alongside her lawyer remotely via teleconference.

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