A Tale of Two Murders
Filed Under: Canada, Local, Society
I sometimes have a difficult time wrapping my head around some of the decisions brought down by our justice system. While there have been many, some of which I blogged about, I refer this time to 2 separate cases both involving murder.
Peter DeBungee happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Back in June 2006 the 45 year old Winnipegger and his girlfriend had decided to take an evening stroll to the Maryland Hotel to buy some beer. He never made it home. As he and his girlfriend walked along minding their own business they were confronted by a group of 7 individuals who were anxious to start some trouble with someone - anyone. The group had been drinking at the hotel earlier until they were evicted and later at a nearby apartment. During the confrontation DeBungee was shoved and punched in the mouth. He attempted to flee but was chased down and quickly swarmed by the mob who proceeded to viciously assault him including jumping on his head. After the attack they dragged him into the middle of McGee Street leaving him for dead. According to at least one witness who watched the attack from the Health Sciences Centre the gang even high-fived each other when it was over.
The result? Sentences ranging from 3 to 5 years. Despite the fact there were witnesses the accused were allowed to plea bargain. In fact 2 of the accused were sentenced to time served in pre-trial custody. Nice.
Further reading here, here, here and here.
We’re all familiar with the case of Robert Latimer. For the benefit of my American readers a brief recap is in order. Latimer’s daughter Tracy was born in 1980 with a severe case of cerebral palsy. She was quadriplegic, suffered numerous seizures daily and was bedridden much of the time. It was believed she had the mental capacity of a 3-4 month old baby and lived in what was described as constant pain. To add to this she had to undergo several surgeries.
In October of 1993 Tracy was found dead, the cause of death being carbon monoxide poisoning. Robert Latimer eventually confessed saying he did it for love. In fact he asked “With the combination of a feeding tube, rods in her back, the leg cut and flopping around and bedsores, how can people say she was a happy little girl?”
After 2 trials and one appeal Robert’s original conviction and sentence stood - guilty of second-degree murder with no chance of parole until after 10 years.
On December 05 of this year Robert applied for day parole but was denied. Claiming he had failed to develop any insight into his crime during his prison tenure the Parole Board felt it had no choice but to turn down the request.
“Folks were left the feeling you have not developed the kind of sufficient understanding of your actions,” said Kelly-Ann Speck, one of the three members of the National Parole Board panel.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am not condoning what Latimer did nor am I calling for open season on people with disabilities. I am just having a hard time rationalizing these 2 decisions. Can anyone explain it to me?
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8 Comments so far. Add Yours Now!
Hunter
In a word….liberalism.
Hug the real thugs, punish the “Christians”. No morals, great, you get house arrest. Morals, standing by your decisions, more jail for you until you learn to grovel before the parole board. There is no excuse for their decision, the main thing they had to figure out was if he was at risk of reoffending. He isn’t, the gang thugs are, but that is liberal thinking.
Liberalism is a form of sickness, problem is they don’t see it, they think they are being progressive. Now, if Latimer had been gay, he would have never had to do any time, like Svend who helped kill a person, that was okay. Steal a ring, oops. Run for reelection, not a problem. Do you see, it’s liberalism, and they make up their own rules.
Dec 9th, 2007
Len Kutchma
Hi Hunter,
No disrespect to the Latimer family but perhaps Robert should have been drunk and smacked his daughter with a bat.
I say that sarcastically of course but the irony is so thick you need an aqua-lung to breathe.
Dec 9th, 2007
Ardvark
Len, if that were the scenario, Mr. Latimer would have been released a long time ago. Sad, isn’t it?
Dec 10th, 2007
Hunter
Well if youths in Edmonton can go home, get golf clubs, change their cars license plate, go back to a private party, and kill a teen by beating him to death, and get house arrest, you might be on to something.
Dec 10th, 2007
Len Kutchma
Hi Ardvark,
It is indeed a sad commentary.
Dec 10th, 2007
Len Kutchma
Hi Hunter,
I read about the case to which you refer. Equally disgusting. It makes one wonder what the hell is going on?!
Dec 10th, 2007
mth
I am half with you. There is no question that the thugs that beat DeBungee should get hard and long time. However, I don’t think that we should be shedding tears for Robert Latimer.
Without sugar-coating it, he consciously chose to murder his daughter because she was a pain in the ass to look after and he wanted to get on with his life. In his mind her life was not of sufficient value or quality and he had the right and power to choose to end it. If Latimer did not want to look after his daughter any more there are other people and agencies that could have done it.
Generally, in terms of their respective crimes, I don’t see Robert Latimer any differently than Colin Thatcher - a family member was perceived as ruining his life and causing hardship so let’s kill them and try to get away with it.
Don’t try to lower the bar for punishment to bring everyone a slap on the wrist. Latimer’s and Thatcher’s sentences and denial of parole was and is the right answer for what they did and it is what the thugs in Winnipeg shoul dhave received as well.
Dec 10th, 2007
Len Kutchma
Hi mth,
As I said, I don’t condone what he did nor do I advocate the eradication of people with disabilities.
Dec 10th, 2007
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