stevesboo23
04-13-2005, 08:09 AM
Deal with the devil' stands
GREG BONNELL, CP 2005-04-13 03:30:02
TORONTO -- Ontario's so-called "deal with the devil" will ensure Karla Homolka escapes prosecution in the drug-rape death of her sister when she's released from prison this summer, the Ontario government admitted yesterday. "I'm not going to go back and second-guess the decision, that's for sure," said Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant.
"That was something that was looked at some years ago and it was reviewed as well by a public inquiry. The decision was made . . . at the time to leave things as they were."
Homolka secured a 12-year prison sentence for manslaughter in 1993 after entering into a plea bargain with Ontario Crown officials.
While she was never charged in the 1990 Christmas Eve death of 15-year-old Tammy Homolka, her sentence took the incident into account.
Two years later, Homolka testified against her former husband Paul Bernardo. He was found guilty of all charges against him, including the sex slayings of two Ontario schoolgirls and the death of Tammy Homolka.
Between Homolka striking her deal and Bernardo's trial, startling videotapes documenting the couple's crimes were handed over to authorities. The tapes emboldened critics, who accused Ontario of signing a "deal with the devil."
A public inquiry into Homolka's plea bargain ensued, but the agreement stood.
"This is something an attorney general of the day made a decision based upon the public inquiry that was before him, and that's that," said Bryant.
The Ontario government vows to pursue what it calls its best legal recourse to protect the public from Homolka.
In mid-June, an application will be made before a Quebec provincial court judge to limit Homolka's freedoms under the Criminal Code, but there's no guarantee any restrictions will be granted.
Despite that, the lawyer representing the families of slain Ontario schoolgirls Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy agrees the Criminal Code is their last available defence against Homolka. Revisiting past crimes aren't an option.
"At the time of the plea bargain, they agreed that the facts relating to Tammy Homolka would be read into the record and form part of the reasons for the sentence," said Tim Danson. "I don't doubt for a moment that legally, if there was a way, they would (charge her)."
Danson believes the government officials passed up their chance to quash the deal long ago.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2005/04/13/994294-sun.html
GREG BONNELL, CP 2005-04-13 03:30:02
TORONTO -- Ontario's so-called "deal with the devil" will ensure Karla Homolka escapes prosecution in the drug-rape death of her sister when she's released from prison this summer, the Ontario government admitted yesterday. "I'm not going to go back and second-guess the decision, that's for sure," said Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant.
"That was something that was looked at some years ago and it was reviewed as well by a public inquiry. The decision was made . . . at the time to leave things as they were."
Homolka secured a 12-year prison sentence for manslaughter in 1993 after entering into a plea bargain with Ontario Crown officials.
While she was never charged in the 1990 Christmas Eve death of 15-year-old Tammy Homolka, her sentence took the incident into account.
Two years later, Homolka testified against her former husband Paul Bernardo. He was found guilty of all charges against him, including the sex slayings of two Ontario schoolgirls and the death of Tammy Homolka.
Between Homolka striking her deal and Bernardo's trial, startling videotapes documenting the couple's crimes were handed over to authorities. The tapes emboldened critics, who accused Ontario of signing a "deal with the devil."
A public inquiry into Homolka's plea bargain ensued, but the agreement stood.
"This is something an attorney general of the day made a decision based upon the public inquiry that was before him, and that's that," said Bryant.
The Ontario government vows to pursue what it calls its best legal recourse to protect the public from Homolka.
In mid-June, an application will be made before a Quebec provincial court judge to limit Homolka's freedoms under the Criminal Code, but there's no guarantee any restrictions will be granted.
Despite that, the lawyer representing the families of slain Ontario schoolgirls Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy agrees the Criminal Code is their last available defence against Homolka. Revisiting past crimes aren't an option.
"At the time of the plea bargain, they agreed that the facts relating to Tammy Homolka would be read into the record and form part of the reasons for the sentence," said Tim Danson. "I don't doubt for a moment that legally, if there was a way, they would (charge her)."
Danson believes the government officials passed up their chance to quash the deal long ago.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2005/04/13/994294-sun.html