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The Taman Inquiry
Posted: July 04, 2008
As bombshells continue to be dropped at the ongoing Crystal Taman inquiry - and new revelations emerge about the handling of killer driver/Winnipeg cop Derek Harvey-Zenk - I can't help but think back to last fall when the controversy was just beginning.

Marty Minuk, the local defence lawyer retained by the province to prosecute Harvey-Zenk, was up in arms over a series of Free Press stories exposing several serious questions and issues surrounding the case.

So, too, was Harvey-Zenk's lawyer Richard Wolson, who seemingly thought we were making a mountain out of a mole hill and that Provincial court Judge Ray Wyant ought to just rubber-stamp the plea bargain that he'd been presented with.

To recap, here's what I wrote in my blog entry, dated September 13:

I learned a long time ago not to simply look at complex legal issues in black and white. Quite often, I’ve found, there are many complicated shades of grey.

But yellow? Well, I hadn’t thought much of the colour - at least not until a Winnipeg lawyer accused me Wednesday of “yellow journalism”.

That’s an inside term that refers to sensational, perhaps unethical and certainly irresponsible work on behalf of a reporter.

And it’s not an allegation I take lightly. Or appreciate, for that matter - especially when it’s made on the public record in a courtroom filled with more than 100 people.

Yet Marty Minuk - a private lawyer I have all the respect in the world for who was hired by the Manitoba justice department to prosecute a Winnipeg police officer - decided to colour my reputation with a baseless cheap shot.

A little background…

Minuk, along with defence lawyer Richard Wolson, were figuratively called to the principal’s office Wednesday morning to justify the highly controversial plea bargain they have pitched for Derek Harvey-Zenk.

The former Winnipeg cop, you’ll recall, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death for the February 2005 crash that killed Crystal Taman, a 40-year-old mother of three.

Despite the fact Harvey-Zenk admitted he was out drinking and partying in the hours preceding the crash - and then refused a police demand for a breathalyser - all alcohol charges were dropped by Minuk.

Without even the slightest explanation to the victim’s family, the court or the public.

So when it became apparent that Chief provincial court Judge Ray Wyant was having great difficultly with the suggested conditional sentence, Minuk and Wolson were summoned back to court for further submissions

But in the few weeks which passed since the initial sentencing hearing, people have started asking questions. Especially the victim’s family, who are certainly entitled to better treatment then they’ve received.

So myself, along with some other reporters, started digging around. Some people started talking. And some answers started coming.

Among the developments which I have reported on:

-Some East St. Paul police officers have accused their former chief, Harry Bakema, of ordering them in advance not to refer in their notes about Harvey-Zenk’s alcohol consumption following the deadly crash. Bakema, through his lawyer, has denied the claims.

-Retired RCMP officer Robert Tramley, who spearheaded a review of the East. St. Paul detachment following Bakema’s firing in 2006, told me the plea bargain with Harvey-Zenk is a “travesty” and said the case should have gone to trial.

-A paramedic at the scene of the deadly crash noted “a strong smell of alcohol” coming from Harvey-Zenk. That fact was included in Tramley’s review.

-Bakema is a former Winnipeg police officer who worked in the same North End district as Harvey-Zenk before he left to go to East St. Paul. Bakema has denied working directly with Harvey-Zenk but said he recognized him at the scene of the crash. Bakema apparently felt there were no grounds for a breath demand - even though another officer (Norm Carter, now the Chief) felt there was when he saw Harvey-Zenk NEARLY AN HOUR LATER.

-Manitoba Justice Minister Dave Chomiak has called for a full public review of the East St. Paul detachment regarding their handling of this, and other, cases.

-Questions have been raised about Manitoba Justice’s decision to appoint Minuk as Crown counsel, given the fact he has previously defended police officers and had recently completed work on a manslaughter case working alongside Harvey-Zenk’s lawyer, Richard Wolson. Justice officials have defended the decision to farm the case out of their own department to Minuk, saying they must avoid a perception of bias given that Crowns regularly work closely with police.

It is perhaps that final one which had Minuk the most upset. He has somehow confused reporting on his background and the policies of Manitoba Justice as calling his ethics into question. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As you can read in my original story, I clearly stated there are no suggestions Minuk has done anything wrong and he is a well-respected lawyer. Yet the story talked about “optics” - the very reason Manitoba Justice said their own very competent staff Crowns were apparently unable to prosecute Harvey-Zenk.

“It wouldn’t look right” is the general answer given, because the Crown often work closely with police. Never mind the fact you could easily find numerous prosecutors who’d never even met Harvey-Zenk, it was all about the appearance.

And that’s fine. But it’s perfectly fair then to ask how the appearance of Minuk’s role in the case is somehow better, given his role as a defence lawyer, close (and very recent) working relationship with Wolson and the fact he’s previously represented cops.

All fair questions.

Yet Minuk is now up in arms. Even Wolson called the reporting “scandalous” in court on Wednesday.

Scandalous??? Funny, that’s a word many are using to describe the debacle the Harvey-Zenk case has become.

And the case only sunk into further chaos after Wednesday.

Wyant - admitting he is struggling with his decision - was practically begging both lawyers to give him more information about circumstances surrounding the crash.

He even offered to pause the hearing so that Minuk could call evidence about the eight or so hours that passed between the end of Harvey-Zenk’s shift and the deadly crash.

Wyant was especially interested in hearing more about Harvey-Zenk’s drinking that night.

Seemed like a perfectly logical request - especially after you hear the Taman family say they were told at one point the Crown had 33 witnesses lined up to testify. Some of those surely had to be the other cops who were with Harvey-Zenk. And what about the paramedic at the scene?

Yet Minuk rejected Wyant’s offer. He didn’t even consult with the Taman family. Or explain to the court why he wouldn’t provide any more information. He just said ‘No’.

And so a clearly frustrated Wyant retreated into his chambers, saying he needs more time to mull over a case in which he candidly admits to being somewhat in the dark about, at least in terms of potentially important issues.

And the Taman family was left, once again, wondering what the hell just happened. And what exactly is being hidden from them.

There’s no doubt Minuk, Wolson and Harvey-Zenk wish this case would have just quietly fell beneath the radar and been quickly disposed of.

Thank goodness it didn’t.

I wish I knew all the answers. I’ve managed to dig up some of them, and I will continue trying to find out the rest.

If that’s what constitutes shoddy journalism, then colour me Yellow.

Fast forward to today.

We're now finally starting to get some of those answers. New details are being exposed about the fatal crash investigation and Harvey-Zenk's perceived impairment which, for reasons I still don't understand, were never put before a judge and/or jury.

If anything, our coverage last fall was barely scratching the surface of this scandal. It now appears this entire debacle is even worse than anyone originally thought.

And yet Marty Minuk wanted everyone to believe that is all just the product of shoddy "yellow" journalism.

I suspect the only colour the public is seeing these days is red - as in anger.

www.mikeoncrime.com
Police, public not having a "blast"
Posted: July 01, 2008
Are Winnipeg residents are getting a little paranoid about the amount of recent gunplay they've seen, heard and read about on city streets?

During the past couple of nights (Monday June 30, Tuesday July 1), 911 operators have been flooded with calls from concerned citizens who believe their neighbourhoods might be hosting the latest gang-related shoot-out.

I'll let the words of one very tired sounding dispatcher - overheard on the police scanner at about 2 a.m. Tuesday - explain what's really been going on.

"Happy Canada Day," he said, with all the enthusiasm of a man going in for a root canal.

Our country's birthday has always been a popular time for people to show their national pride by sending colourful balls of fire screaming into the sky.

And yet I can't remember ever hearing about so many fireworks celebrations being mistaken for gunfire.

I believe this year's large volume of calls - which tie up considerable police resources as every one must be investigated - is a direct reflection of the growing fear many Winnipeggers have with regards to guns.

Drive-by shootings are seemingly happening every few days. A home was riddled with bullets in broad daylight just last week. A teen got shot in the leg while playing a game of "Russian Roulette" with friends a few days ago.

A man was gunned down on a crowded Pembina Highway hotel patio earlier this spring. Three men were shot dead inside an Alexander Avenue home a few months back.

The stories go on, and on, and on. And I think the public has now been conditioned to believe that it can happen anytime, anywhere.

I'm sure most of the people who have called 911 the past few nights believed they were probably just hearing fireworks. But they probably were thinking "better safe than sorry" when they picked up the phone.

And who can blame them?

However...

There might be some blame to go around for those responsible for setting off fireworks...and false alarms.

A quick read of the City of Winnipeg website shows that anyone wishing to "blast off" must first apply for, and obtain, a permit.

Just a guess here, but the majority of these late-night pop-pop-pops are likely coming from folks who haven't bothered to ask Uncle Sam (Katz) for permission.

I'm not sure how many by-law offences are being handed out - but it's clear the issue is a significant one in terms of tying up valuable police resources.

So here's my questions for you.

Should some of these citizens just relax a bit and enjoy the sights and sounds? Have you been jolted from sleep by fireworks? Have you dropped a dime on your festive neighbour?

Post your comments below.
Don't believe everything you read on the Internet!
Posted: June 27, 2008
A tip of the hat to my colleagues, Lindsey Wiebe and Jason Bell, for sending this little gem my way.

Earlier this week, Lindsey was preparing to write a story that involved the tiny town of Zhoda, Manitoba. Not knowing too much about the community, she went online to see what she could find.

The following is courtesty of Wikipedia.

Unlike most small towns or hamlets, uniquely; Zhoda reeve establishment is not based on community votes or campaigns. Every second year a wrestling match is promoted in the area and candidate hopefuls line up for their time in the ring. If one is to old, impaired, or weak, they can choose another to represent themselves. Wrestling matches take place during June-July and are held at the Zhoda Hall. Currently, Stephen El Stevo is the reigning 5 year champion who's style include a Mexican-style wrestling blended with American boxing.

This year's competition is set to have four main contestants, namely, the current title holder, Stephen El Stevo, "Old Man" Arhaas, Johnny "Sober" Sobering, Agatha "Aggie" Wall, and Professor Peter Potato Dungalinger Wigglebums.

Zhoda's main export, while not being financially lucrative, is stray dogs. Currently, shipments are being made to Grunthal and Winnipeg, but it has been noted that La Broquerie has it's eyes set on importing the vast majority into their possession.

It appears someone has been having some fun at Zhoda's expense!

And while we can probably all get a chuckle out of the entry, it's a good reminder that the Internet is still a vast, largely unpoliced universe where an "anything goes" mentality sometimes exists.

So be careful out there. And have a great long weekend. I'll be in Zhoda, sitting ringside with the strays and watching to see if the great Stephen El Stevo can fend off his beefy challengers.

www.mikeoncrime.com
Are we being unfair to the "laughing" car thief?
Posted: June 24, 2008
In the past few weeks, my colleague, James Turner, and I have written plenty about the 16-year-old Winnipeg girl who laughed off the death of a city cabbie following a horrific stolen car crash in March.

Reaction to our stories has been widespread, with the publicly clearly outraged by this teen's behaviour and her inability to follow court orders.

It reached a fever pitch this past weekend when we revealed that the girl has gone online and posted pictures of the tragedy - complete with her own headline of "F---ing Deaaaaadly!" along with images of her proudly showing off her court-ordered ankle bracelet. (Read story HERE)

The same bracelet she's accused of trying to saw off last week, which has now landed her back in custody.

James and I have spent time with the girl's parents, who are frustrated as anyone. This is not a case of neglectful, uncaring parents - Mom has already turned her daughter in twice to police for breaches. How many parents out there would honestly do the same thing with their child?

Police and justice officials are also fed up, with many wondering what it will take to get the message through to this girl.

However, not everyone thinks the situation is as hopeless as it appears.

As you can see in the email below, the chaplain at the Manitoba Youth Centre believes this girl is a much different one than is being portrayed in court and in public.

And he feels us media types have been unfair with our coverage.

Have a read - and then tell me what you think by posting your comments below. (The only editing I've done is to remove the girl's name, as publishing it is a violation of the Youth Criminal Justice Act)

*****

Mike,

Here’s the letter I wrote the court. It’s based on a significant amount of time spent in conversation with this young woman and provides, I think, some badly needed balance to the perception that has developed around this story. I find it interesting that some people assume that the comments she made during a very tense and awkward interrogation are more credible and authentic than the comments she made in a safe environment after careful reflection. Anyway the letter represents my professional opinion as someone who has been engaged in pastoral care and counseling for over 30 years.

Colin Peterson, Chaplain, MYC

To whom it may concern,

Re: (The girl's name)

I have met with (the girl) four times since her admission to the Manitoba Youth Centre. The purpose of these meetings was to offer spiritual care and counselling. Based on my sessions with (the girl) I would offer the following observations:

(The girl) is, in many respects, a typical teenager who speaks and acts impulsively sometimes minimizing the impact of her words and actions. As a defense mechanism, when (the girl) feels uncomfortable or vulnerable, she presents with a certain measure of hostility or “attitude” and appears to be rude or selfish. When given a safe environment in which to discuss her fears and deepest feelings, it is evident that she is a sensitive young woman who is capable of expressing empathy and remorse with authentic and congruent emotion and affect. It is my belief that her highly publicized remarks to the WPS, while deeply disturbing, were not a true reflection of (the girl's) beliefs and feelings but more likely a post-traumatic response and a reflection of the profound emotion surrounding the events about which she was being questioned.

My sessions with her have been emotional sessions indeed. It is my conviction that with ongoing support and counselling, (the girl), will learn to trust persons in positions of authority and express her feelings of pain and sadness more openly and appropriately.

Yours truly,

The Rev. Colin Peterson; M.Div. S.T.M. Chaplain – Manitoba Youth Centre
No hero in his home
Posted: June 19, 2008
He describes himself as a loyal, proud soldier who has served his country with honour.

But there is another side to this 25-year-old Winnipeg man. And as we heard in court this week, his actions with his own family have been anything but honourable.

The man -who can't be named under a court order - admits he deliberately and brutally inflicted pain on his tiny triplet sons following their births last year.

His so-called "explanation" for his actions is chilling, to say the least. As Crown attorney Jennifer Mann said in court, it appears that he believes the babies had some kind of personal vendetta against him.

"These three babies are screaming at me 24/7. I’m frustrated all the time. I know I’m hurting them… but they all set me off sometimes," he said.

The father even told police he took steps to ensure the abuse wouldn't be discovered by his wife or anyone else.

"I would squeeze them because it didn’t leave a mark. That was my biggest concern," he said.

You'd like to think a parent's biggest concern would be the well-being of their children. But the sad reality is there are plenty of people out there who are clearly unfit to raise children.

I have all the sympathy in the world for the frustrations and struggles associated with raising children, especially little babies. As a father of two, my wife and I had many long days and nights where we seriously questioned what we'd gotten ourselves into.

And I can only imagine the stress being felt in this family, where the arrival of triplets - in addition to a two-year-old boy - would have likely felt overwhelming at times.

But no amount of strain should ever excuse a parent for harming their children.

It will be a long time before I can get the horrible description of the triplets' injuries out of my head. They suffered a combined 19 broken bones and, in the words of their own father, likely would have ended up being murdered if not for police intervention.

Crown attorney Jennifer Mann told court the man’s disconnect with his children was painfully obvious — he didn’t even know their birthdate and said he couldn’t tell them apart.

“They’re just A, B and C to me,” he told police.

He admitted to having a “horrible” temper and said their constant crying caused him to lash out. But he admits even little things — such as bad radio programs or even people staring at him — can set him off.

“It doesn’t take much,” he said.

The Crown now wants him to serve another 18 months in jail, in addition to nine months he’s already spent behind bars since his arrest.

He is seeking to be released immediately. His lawyer will make submissions on Monday, and is expected to provide a laundry list of apparently explanations for his client's behaviour.

The soldier will apparently cite a two-month stint in Kandahar in 2006 that may have left him suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Family members told me last year the man — who works in maintenance and didn’t see any front-line duty — had trouble sleeping since his return.

They also came forward to complain they had made repeated pleas for child-care assistance from the province and Canadian Forces that fell on deaf ears.

The Crown admits there was a delay in getting respite care to the couple but said the father must ultimately take responsibility for his actions, which includes turning down other offers of assistance.

The man also told police he’d previously abused his two-year-old son as a baby — incidents which would have pre-dated his trip to Afghanistan.

It will be interesting to see what the judge decides to do with this case. Clearly the children are now out of harms way and apparently showing no long-term symptoms from their injuries. But should the father spend some more time behind bars?

And what about his status with the Military? They have continued to support him since his arrest, including offering to have him stay on the Winnipeg base under 24-hour supervision if he were to be released on bail. A judge refused.

Is he still fit to serve the country with "honour"?

www.mikeoncrime.com
Did school go too far to make a point with students?
Posted: June 12, 2008
Fascinating story came across the news wire today.

I've always been an advocate of trying something different, something unique, to get a message across - especially when it's clear traditional methods aren't working.

And as I've written before in this space, I'll never understand why some people just snub their noses at the risks associated with drinking driving.

That being said, I'm not sure how I feel about the following. Should we be cheering school officials for "thinking outside the box" - or did they cross the proverbial line with their approach?

Have a read, and post your thoughts below. We'll discuss this on my national radio show Sunday evening.

OCEANSIDE, California (AP) — On a Monday morning last month, highway patrol officers visited 20 classrooms at El Camino High School to announce some horrible news: Several students had been killed in car wrecks over the weekend.

Classmates wept. Some became hysterical.

A few hours and many tears later, though, the pain turned to fury when the teenagers learned that it was all a hoax, a scared-straight exercise designed by school officials to dramatize the consequences of drinking and driving.

As seniors prepare for graduation parties Friday, school officials in the largely prosperous San Diego, California, suburb are defending themselves against allegations that they went too far.

At school assemblies, some students held posters that read, “Death is real. Don’t play with our emotions.”

Michelle de Gracia, 16, was in physics class when an officer announced that her missing classmate David, a popular basketball player, had died instantly after being rear-ended by a drunken driver. She said she felt nauseated but was too stunned to cry.

“They got the shock they wanted,” she said.

Some of her classmates became extremely upset, prompting the teacher to tell them immediately that it was all staged.

“People started yelling at the teacher,” she said. “It was pretty hectic.”

Others, including many who heard the news of the 26 deaths between classes, were left in the dark until the missing students reappeared hours later.

“You feel betrayed by your teachers and administrators, these people you trust,” said 15-year-old Carolyn Magos. “But then I felt selfish for feeling that way, because, I mean, if it saves one life, it’s worth it.”

Officials at the 3,100-student school defended the program.

“They were traumatized, but we wanted them to be traumatized,” said guidance counselor Lori Tauber, who helped organize the shocking exercise and got dozens of students to participate. “That’s how they get the message.”

The plan was to tell the truth to the students at an assembly later in the day. But word that it was all a hoax began to spread before the gathering. Tauber said some counselors and administrators revealed the truth to calm some students who had become upset.

Oceanside Schools Superintendent Larry Perondi said he fielded only a few calls from parents, and the PTA chapter said it had not heard any complaints. Perondi said the program would be revised, but he would not say how. And he said he was glad that students seemed to have gotten the message.

“We did this in earnest,” he said. “This was not done to be a prankster.”

www.mikeoncrime.com
Good Samaritans, Bad Samaritans
Posted: June 08, 2008
What would you do if you witnessed a crime unfolding right in front of you? Of if you saw someone who was in need of immediate help?

Would you dial 911 and just let the authorities handle it? Would you try and stop the bad guy or help the victim? Or would you simply turn a blind eye and do nothing?

Before you answer, consider the following two cases.

*****

Amanda Bourque may be nine months pregnant, but she wasn't going to let that stop her from doing the right thing.

And to the 30-year-old Tecumseh, Ontario woman, that meant stopping a suspect drunk driver for wreaking any more havoc in her hometown.

As Bourque told a national radio audience on my "Crime and Punishment" radio show Sunday night, she has no regrets about her actions last week.

She was driving to her work, around noon, when she caught a glimpse of a car in her rear-view mirror that immediately set off warning bells.

The male driver was all over the road and eventually took out a string of garbage cans, including one flattened container still being dragged under his car.

Bourque, who didn't have a cell phone, pulled over and let the maniac pass.

I suggested to her Sunday that this is where most people would have ended their involvement.

Bourque had other ideas. She stepped on the gas and gave chase, leaning on her horn in an attempt to get the driver to pull over (and warn other motorists).

She watched in horror as he veered into oncoming traffic, narrowly missing hitting another car head-on. Finally, he turned into the parking lot of a convenience store, went up over the curb, over the sidewalk, over the grass, over another curb before coming to rest in a parking stall.

Bourque began screaming at the man, letting him know he'd nearly killed people on the road. She also told him the police would likely be coming shortly.

That prompted the pan to back up, hit a brick wall and take off again.

Bourque wasn't going to give up.

She continued to follow and honk and pray - then finally got the chance to act when he slammed into the back of a parked car at a stop sign. Nobody was injured.

Bourque used her own car to box the man in, holding him until police arrived moments later and took the 54-year-old driver into custody. He's now charged with being impaired.

"She probably saved a life that day," one caller to the radio show said Sunday.

Another interesting aspect of the case is the reaction from police, who normally pooh-pooh (at least publicly) the notion of taking matters into your own hands.

Const. Janet Hayes said she’ll nominate Bourque for a public service award, saying the woman put herself and her baby at risk to save the lives of others, and not everyone would do that.

“Here is a woman who has a lot at stake and she’s willing to take the risk to herself and unborn child to do the right thing, to save a life,” she told the Windsor Star. “She’s a true hero.”

Bourque told me she wasn't trying to be a hero - she was just doing what she hoped any other citizen would.

"If I would have seen in the paper that somebody got killed, or a mother and her two children were in a bad accident because of this guy, and I just turned my back, there is no way I’d ever be able to sleep. Never," she told the Star.

Her story is a refreshing reminder that there are still some very good people in this world - especially in light of the following story.

*****

The 78-year-old man lay critically injured on the road, his frail body broken after being hit by a car seconds earlier which they sped away without stopping.

Perhaps even more shocking than last week's tragic hit-and-run in Hartford is what happened next.

Nothing.

Surveillance cameras which captured Angel Arce Torres being mowed down also revealed another disturbing sight - numerous cars zooming past and bystanders simply staring at Torres from the sidewalk without going anywhere near him.

“We no longer have a moral compass," a grim-faced police Chief Daryl Roberts told reporters last week upon releasing the videos to the public.

Police did admit they received a handful of 911 emergency calls made shortly after the senior was hit. They released portions of two calls on Friday.

“Send an ambulance quick, quick, quick, he’s bleeding hard,” one man implores an emergency operator.

Although it's nice to know a few people felt moved enough to dial for help, it still doesn't explain the shocking non-reaction from everyone at the scene.

The government has now offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the motorists involved in the accident.

As some calls to "Crime and Punishment" suggested Sunday, they may want to throw in some additional funds for anyone who can find out where that missing "moral compass" has gone.

*****

Two very different cases. And two very different reactions.

What prompted Amanda Bourque to take such an active role in her situation while those in Hartford seemingly viewed getting involved as a major inconvenience.

If anything, Bourque had much more to fear - she's about to give birth and was chasing down a dangerous driver. What could the people of Connecticut been afraid of by approaching the injured man??

This issue runs much deeper than these two examples, of course. And by no means is it as simple as saying "Canadians are more caring than Americans."

We've all seen and heard plenty of homegrown stories where people showed a glaring indifference, or worse, in similar situations.

I've personally covered several trials in the past year alone where lack of witness co-operation mean the suspect walked. Of course, there are many others cases which never even made it to court for similar reasons.

Why is this?

Is it the fact many people are simply self-absorbed and can't be bothered to care about anyone other than those in their immediate world?

Is it a product of the Internet world we now live in, where actual human connections have taken a backseat to the virtual variety?

Is it because of frustrations with the justice system, where people think getting involved will be more trouble than its worth and simply lead to years of legal headaches with no satisfactory conclusion?

All I know is this.

Amanda Bourque said she couldn't have slept at night had she just kept on driving.

I wonder how the people who refused to help the elderly hit-and-run victim are sleeping these days?

www.mikeoncrime.com
Hot topics - Vic Toews, animal abuse, Paul Bernardo and too much information?
Posted: June 04, 2008
I've got a new Jury Poll up on my website - www.mikeoncrime.com - which asks visitors whether they think Manitoba senior MP Vic Toews would make a good judge.

Forget for a moment that Toews in on the record bashing so-called patronage appointments, and now may be in line to receive one himself.

Forget for a moment that Toews' personal life is now the subject of ongoing court proceedings (his wife of 25 years has filed for divorce) as well as all sorts of tawdry discussion which might have some questioning how a man who buttered his bread preaching "family values" could be anything but a hypocrite.

Bottom line - would Toews be a good fit behind the bench? So far the vote is running pretty close. I'll leave the question up for a couple more days, so make sure to cast your vote.

*****

So two Alberta teens have pleaded guilty to breaking into a home over the Christmas break, vandalizing it and then killing the family's cat by sticking it in a microwave oven for 10 minutes.

Brutal. Senseless. Horrific. All those words - and more - come to mind.

Here's another word you're going to be hearing soon in connection with this case - pathetic.

As in, the sentences these two savages will receive next month will be pathetic.

How could they not be?

We know that sentences involving animal cruelty are already light enough - with beloved pets treated as nothing more than property under Canadian law.

And we know that the Youth Criminal Justice Act doesn't exactly leave offenders shaking in their sneakers. So, combine these two factors and you have a recipe for a good ol' slap on the wrist.

Anyone out there disagree?

And what to make of these two teens and their prospects for a bright future?

I once read that the majority of serial killers started off at a young age abusing animals. That's not to say these kids will grow up to be mass murderers. But you can't help but worry where they go from here after sadistically torturing and killing something so innocent.

*****

A judge has agreed to allow media outlets get copies of a 2007 interview with convicted killer and rapist Paul Bernardo.

The 31-minute tape - which the judge called more "boring" than "chilling" - involves questioning of Bernardo about the unsolved killing of student Elizabeth Bain.

We're likely to be inundated with video clips, still photos and soundbites in the coming days and weeks.

How do you feel about that?

Is this another slap in the face to the families of Bernardo's victims that he is continuing to grab headlines so long after the fact?

Or is there a legitimate value to putting this out there for public consumption?

More importantly, will you watch it? Are you curious to see what Bernardo now looks like, how jail appears to be treating him, what he says and how he says it? Or will you just turn away, change the channel?

*****

Finally, on the topic of whether the media is "going too far", I wonder what you think of the latest bombshell revelation surrounding the horrific kidnapping and murder of Quebec political aide Nancy Michaud?

As you may have heard, the suspect, Francis Proulx, has been hit with additional charges of necrophilia and sexual assault.

That takes an already terrible tragedy and adds yet another gruesome layer to it.

From what I've seen so far, the media have carefully stickhandled around this by simply reporting the new charges and not going much further. No doubt this is out of respect for the impact this must be having on Michaud's friends and family member.

But the issue is bound to come up again - likely in more graphic detail - if and when the case goes to trial and/or sentencing.

I suspect there will be plenty of intense debates in newsrooms around the country - including mine - about how much information to publish about the specifics of the case.

This isn't the first case to generate these kinds of discussions, and sadly, it won't be the last.

But I'm always curious what the masses think about our role in these types of situations. How much is too much? Or does the public's right to know trump any other concerns?

Feel free to discuss any, or all, of the above topics amongst yourselves.
What a week!
Posted: May 30, 2008
Where to begin?

It's hard to believe how many major crime and justice stories came out of Winnipeg last week. I'd be hard-pressed to find a busier five-day stretch in my 13-year career. It felt like a month's worth of news happening all at once.

Here's a quick synopsis of just the stories I was involved with, along with my own two cents (and links to the various stories in case they went by you in a blur!)

1) Arrest made in Beverly Rowbotham murder case - Finally, after nearly eight long years, the development everyone has been waiting for. Now the focus moves to the courts, where Mark Stobbe vows to fight to prove his innocence.

2) Arrest made in Joel and Maggy Labossiere murder case - It took Winnipeg police just a few weeks to nab a suspect in one of the most sadistic killings in recent city history. And the suspect, Kelly Clarke, is no stranger to police or myself, as I've previously covered his numerous court cases. The investigation continues and more arrests could be coming.

3) Major developments in Adam Anhang murder case - Some real twists and turns to this international mystery. We learned this week that a new suspect had emerged and confessed to killing the ex-Winnipeg millionaire in Puerto Rico - and also implicated Anhang's estranged wife. Now comes word of more potential arrests.

4) Police sexually assaulted me, criminal claims - A touchy story for sure, and the kind we don't often write about. We get calls on a frequent basis from people claiming the cops attacked them. The vast majority never see the light of day, because the people haven't filed an official Law Enforcement Review Agency complaint, won't allow their name and photo to be published, or refuse to disclose other key information. In the case of Leon Vermette, he met all of these criteria, and so we told his story - along with getting extensive police reaction through the Crown which disputed what he said. It was controversial, for sure. But also fair and balanced. And that's all we can do. We'll now follow it through to the end.

5) Jury hung, mistrial declared in triplet killing - For the second time, emotional jurors were unable to reach a verdict in the case against Michelle Camire. Now the Crown says they will pursue a third trial. Strong feelings on both sides of this one came in through phone calls and e-mails this week. Clearly the public is divided as the jurors.

6) Former Hells president gets 13 years in prison - The rise and fall of Ernie Dew was completed this week when he received a major jail sentence for selling drugs to his former friend turned police agent, Franco Atanasovic. It just shows that in the world of organized crime, you can't trust anyone.

7) Convicted killer sneaks into Canada to meet Internet girlfriend - Finally, something a little lighter. Had some fun with this exclusive, in which we told you of a American who followed his heart to Winnipeg - but ended up in prison. "Love makes you stupid," his lawyer told court. The man will be deported once his sentence is complete. One question - what's with the woman who fell for this guy?? I guess nice guys truly do finish last!

8) Mom guilty of corrupting children - A terrible story about a mother who disregarded the needs of her children and put them in a horrendous position inside an inner-city crackhouse where they were deprived of many things - including food - while being exposed to the worst of society.

9) U of M wrestler acquitted - Another real "talker" with a controversial ending. A judge ruled against a young woman who claimed, at the age of 15, that she was sexually assaulted by a much older peer while both were training in a university wrestling program. The case essentially led to the collapse of the program and has clearly left a bitter taste in many mouths.

10) Judge decries street violence in Winnipeg - Associate Chief Justice Jeffrey Oliphant, always a straight-shooter, pulled no punches when he found a man guilty of murder and sentenced him to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years. Oliphant said the case - which involved a stabbing outside a downtown bar - is yet another tragic example of the kind of senseless violence which has become all too common in our city.

11) Accused deadly drug dealer gets bail - A man charged with dispensing a lethal dose of morphine to a young woman was freed from the Remand Centre, despite objections from the Crown. And while we can't tell you specifics of the hearing because of a publication ban, this first-of-its kind case in Manitoba promises to be a doozy if and when it gets to trial.

12) Nigerian scam artist gets prison sentence, faces deporation - So let's get this straight. Canadians are going to pay for this guy - who bilked a retired Winnipeg doctor of more than $35,000 in an elaborate e-mail scam - to spend up to 30-months in jail, only to them immediately send him packing once he's done. Why can't we just save the money and kick him out of the country immediately??

Of course, those were just the stories I was personally invovled with reporting on.

We also had homicides number 16 and 17 in Winnipeg, the latest craziness involving police being forced to shoot at car thieves, reports of a CFS worker being busted for drug posession while having a child in his car, RCMP vowing to catch the arsonist who burned down a police officer's trailer in a remote reserve, a woman accused of running over and killing a family member while driving drunk, a distraught teen girl speaking out about an unprovoked attack by a large mob of young women, a woman who was critically injured in a sexual assault, Winnipeg police launching an investigation into Facebook photos showing a man lighting a cigarette with an officer's Taser, and a woman sentenced for exposing herself to young children.

Did I miss anything? Actually, plenty. Just take a walk through the downtown Law Courts of any given day and there's non-stop action going on in more than a dozen courtrooms. The stories I file on a daily basis are barely scratching the surface of what's actually happening. Same goes for the police beat, where only a handful of incidents ever get reported on.

Yet, the reality is the public seems to want as much information on these types of stories as it can get. Just take a look at the daily "Top 10" story list on the Free Press website, where stories of murder and mayhem are always among the most read.

I'm going to take a few days now to catch my breath! In the meantime, feel free to discuss any of these stories and issues below.

www.mikeoncrime.com
A sad picture is worth 1,000 words
Posted: May 26, 2008

This picture, taken by Free Press staffer Boris Minkevich, jumped off the page for me today and really got me thinking.

We all know that inner-city violence is a major issue in Winnipeg. Look no further than this past weekend, when two more people lost their lives, bringing the city's homicide total to an alarming 17 before the leaves are barely on the trees yet.

But what got to me about the powerful image above was looking at the group of children who are standing behind the police tape as investigators probe the latest senseless death.

I wonder what's going through their minds?

Are they scared about what they are seeing in their neighbourhood, wondering what the future might hold?

Or are they immune from this type of fear and simply drawn to the scene, likes moths to a light, because it is so familiar to them?

What do you think?

www.mikeoncrime.com

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What a week!

A sad picture is worth 1,000 words