stevesboo23
06-16-2005, 08:42 AM
Officials have plan to whisk Homolka safely from prison upon her release
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/cpress/20050609/ca_pr_on_na/crime_homolka_release_1
ROSS MAROWITS
Thu Jun 9, 5:37 PM ET
MONTREAL (CP) - Correctional Service Canada has been working with police on an undisclosed plan to whisk Karla Homolka safely from prison when she completes her 12-year manslaughter sentence in the sex slayings of two Ontario schoolgirls.
Unlike most inmates, Homolka's notoriety means she can't taste freedom by simply walking through the prison gates into the arms of her waiting family when she's freed from a Quebec prison sometime between June 30 and July 4, officials say.
"Because of the astronomical . . . unprecedented attention that she is getting, we will be seeking police assistance to get her off to her destination," Michele Pilon-Santilli, national media director for the federal prison system, said in an interview.
Details of those arrangements are being closely guarded.
"We wouldn't share how she is going to be released or where she is going to be released from with anyone, except for police forces," said Pilon-Santilli.
As in the case of all inmates who may pose a threat, a case management team prepares for the release three months in advance by sending police details of the inmates criminal history, institutional behaviour and psychological reports.
Homolka herself is aware of the public interest and might issue a statement when she's freed, said her lawyer, Sylvie Bordelais.
"We'll be discussing that and we'll see," Bordelais told The Canadian Press.
Homolka is one of Canada's most reviled convicts after a controversial 1993 plea bargain with Ontario officials that saw her plead guilty to manslaughter in the deaths of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy in exchange for her testimony against Paul Bernardo.
The deal was made before officials knew of videotapes that portrayed Homolka as an active participant in the rapes of the girls.
Bernardo has been declared a dangerous offender and is serving a life sentence for the slayings.
Court documents suggest Homolka is looking to live in Montreal because she believes few people in Quebec, at least until recently, had heard of her, a situation that would allow her to blend anonymously into society.
Only police in the city where she's headed upon her release would be notified in advance of her arrival, Pilon-Santilli said.
Word of Homolka's freedom will likely come from the families of her victims, who will be notified "as the release is taking place or very shortly after," she said.
It's up to Homolka to decide who she will personally notify.
"Every offender's case management team works with them. They are fully aware of the various services that are available in the community to assist them. It's up to them to make the contacts," Pilon-Santilli said.
The Elizabeth Fry Society has reportedly been working with Homolka on her transition to a new life.
As the days wind down to her release, security has been beefed up at a prison just north of Montreal that is now housing Homolka. Guards recently began checking every car that approached entrance barricades before turning some away, with only people on an approved list allowed in.
Confirmation of Homolka's release will come, however, when Correctional Service officials say they will no longer be able to talk about Homolka because of the Privacy Act, Pilon-Santilli added.
"The minute she reaches warrant expiry or any offender reaches warrant expiry, we can no longer speak about them. They will have served their full court sentence."
It's then up to local police to ensure she abides by numerous restrictions imposed on her by Quebec court Judge Jean Beaulieu.
One of the conditions is that Homolka report the first Friday of each month to her local police station. Whether that can be changed to protect Homolka's privacy remains to be seen.
"Every condition can always be changed," said Bordelais, declining to discuss any specific plans.
Montreal police spokesman Olivier Lapointe wouldn't comment on their plans concerning Homolka.
"There's nothing to say from our part," he said. "We're just applying the law. She did all her sentence so now it's in the hands of the justice system. There's nothing to be said from the police perspective."
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/cpress/20050609/ca_pr_on_na/crime_homolka_release_1
ROSS MAROWITS
Thu Jun 9, 5:37 PM ET
MONTREAL (CP) - Correctional Service Canada has been working with police on an undisclosed plan to whisk Karla Homolka safely from prison when she completes her 12-year manslaughter sentence in the sex slayings of two Ontario schoolgirls.
Unlike most inmates, Homolka's notoriety means she can't taste freedom by simply walking through the prison gates into the arms of her waiting family when she's freed from a Quebec prison sometime between June 30 and July 4, officials say.
"Because of the astronomical . . . unprecedented attention that she is getting, we will be seeking police assistance to get her off to her destination," Michele Pilon-Santilli, national media director for the federal prison system, said in an interview.
Details of those arrangements are being closely guarded.
"We wouldn't share how she is going to be released or where she is going to be released from with anyone, except for police forces," said Pilon-Santilli.
As in the case of all inmates who may pose a threat, a case management team prepares for the release three months in advance by sending police details of the inmates criminal history, institutional behaviour and psychological reports.
Homolka herself is aware of the public interest and might issue a statement when she's freed, said her lawyer, Sylvie Bordelais.
"We'll be discussing that and we'll see," Bordelais told The Canadian Press.
Homolka is one of Canada's most reviled convicts after a controversial 1993 plea bargain with Ontario officials that saw her plead guilty to manslaughter in the deaths of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy in exchange for her testimony against Paul Bernardo.
The deal was made before officials knew of videotapes that portrayed Homolka as an active participant in the rapes of the girls.
Bernardo has been declared a dangerous offender and is serving a life sentence for the slayings.
Court documents suggest Homolka is looking to live in Montreal because she believes few people in Quebec, at least until recently, had heard of her, a situation that would allow her to blend anonymously into society.
Only police in the city where she's headed upon her release would be notified in advance of her arrival, Pilon-Santilli said.
Word of Homolka's freedom will likely come from the families of her victims, who will be notified "as the release is taking place or very shortly after," she said.
It's up to Homolka to decide who she will personally notify.
"Every offender's case management team works with them. They are fully aware of the various services that are available in the community to assist them. It's up to them to make the contacts," Pilon-Santilli said.
The Elizabeth Fry Society has reportedly been working with Homolka on her transition to a new life.
As the days wind down to her release, security has been beefed up at a prison just north of Montreal that is now housing Homolka. Guards recently began checking every car that approached entrance barricades before turning some away, with only people on an approved list allowed in.
Confirmation of Homolka's release will come, however, when Correctional Service officials say they will no longer be able to talk about Homolka because of the Privacy Act, Pilon-Santilli added.
"The minute she reaches warrant expiry or any offender reaches warrant expiry, we can no longer speak about them. They will have served their full court sentence."
It's then up to local police to ensure she abides by numerous restrictions imposed on her by Quebec court Judge Jean Beaulieu.
One of the conditions is that Homolka report the first Friday of each month to her local police station. Whether that can be changed to protect Homolka's privacy remains to be seen.
"Every condition can always be changed," said Bordelais, declining to discuss any specific plans.
Montreal police spokesman Olivier Lapointe wouldn't comment on their plans concerning Homolka.
"There's nothing to say from our part," he said. "We're just applying the law. She did all her sentence so now it's in the hands of the justice system. There's nothing to be said from the police perspective."