Who Killed Theresa?: 04/01/2006

Sunday, April 30, 2006

Game 5 - Carolina 2, Montreal 1

Montreal had their chances. Not enough fire power, and Kovelev can't do everything (Note to Kovelev: when pressed DO NOT pass it to Ribero).

In the end this was Cam Ward's game. He played a fantastic game.

Worst Commercial Ever!

Like a Thud...

In what can only be rationalized as a cost cutting measure (they lost $1.2 billion in the first quarter - just a flesh wound) The Ford Motor Company has gone from A-list talent to these clowns for their Southeast car promotions. Call it a moving violation, just don't utter the words Beep-Beep...

"this is how Pearl Jam got their start, right?"

Big Jim

There was a lovely picture of Jim and Alison Sapikowski in today's paper. If I hadn't have looked I would have forgotten that it was one year ago that they both died. It is an extraordinary gesture - given the circumstances of their deaths - that the Sapikowski and Powel families would post such a wonderful tribute.

No one should guess I am hung up on Jim's death. I think if him often. When I do I always smile; because I can see his huge, confident grin smiling back at me.

As some of you know I subscribed to NHL In Demand this season largely due to Jim's influence (he had In Demand and always marveled at all the games he got to watch).

It is fitting on this day that the Colorado Avalanche knocked-off the Dallas Stars (the Avs were Jim's team). Now no one would have been more surprised at the twist of fate that brought the Montreal Canadiens number one goalie, Jose Theadore to Colorado than Jim. Jim used to go on about Theo, and how it would be great if the Avs landed a goalie like that. Jim got his wish and now Jose seems to have found his old form.

But in landing Theo, Colorado also received one of the Habs worst defenseman of all time. That's right, we're talking Patrice Brisebois. Jim... listen to me here... Brezzy was caught up so many times in this series it's a wonder your team pulled it off. Watch out for that. If the Avs go down in the next round it will no doubt be because of a knuckleheaded play by The Breezer.

Saturday, April 29, 2006

My daughter won an award in the Reflections art contest today.

The theme was "I wonder why":

I wonder why A. Allore (oil on canvas)

"I wonder why when you're feeling blue, family is always there for you"

Game 4 - Carolina 3, Montreal 2

I said at the beginning of this that Montreal would probably beat Carolina. But that was given all things equal. Well things are not equal. Without Koivu the Habs are a ship adrift without a captain (Imagine the Canes without Brind'Amour).

With Koivu in the lineup the Canes wouldn't have gotten three points from Justin Williams (and I'm wondering how long we can accept Williams' apologies as he stuck it again to a Canadians player (Boullion) and again no penalty called).

Having said that, The Canes totally dominated the Habs last night, no more so then in the third period where they played excellent D and shut Montreal down.

Game five is back in Raleigh. I'm debating whether I'll go. It's getting a little tedious listening to Johnny Cracker in the stands pontificate about "the double teaming" and the "offsides". (Of course this works both ways, I also think professional basketball has no business being played in Canada and The Toronto Raptors is the gayest name I've ever heard).

Yes it truly is an upside down world when a team from the South can overpower the once invincible Blue Blanc et Rouge. It's like watching a movie and cheering for the villain instead of our hero. Kind of how I feel when I watch those MI3 previews; I so want Phillip Hoffman to beat the crap out of Tom Cruise.

Friday, April 28, 2006

Game 4 - 1st period

No Habs, No!

Is anyone else pressing for justice reform quite like Quebec?

Québec veut rendre la remise en liberté plus rigoureuse et plus transparente

Presse Canadienne

L'implantation progressive de la Loi sur le système correctionnel du Québec annoncée vendredi par le ministre de la Sécurité publique, Jacques Dupuis, vise à redonner aux Québécois une certaine confiance dans le système.

Une confiance particulièrement mise à mal par la mort violente du jeune Alexandre Livernoche en août 2000 ou encore de Julie Boisvenu, en juin 2002.

Il faudra cependant attendre encore, en fait au 5 février 2007, pour voir l'implantation des principales dispositions de la loi en question qui a pourtant été sanctionnée en juin 2002 par le gouvernement du Parti québécois.

Si l'examen plus serré des demandes de libération conditionnelle devait entraîner une surpopulation dans les centres de détention, le ministre Dupuis n'écarte pas la possibilité de recourir à l'entreprise privée pour la construction d'une prison dont il assure que les gardiens seront des agents syndiqués des services correctionnels.

Il y a six ans, Alexandre Livernoche a été agressé sexuellement et poignardé par le récidiviste Mario Bastien libéré de la prison de Trois-Rivières par le direction aux prises avec un surplus de détenus. Le directeur n'avait pas pris en compte le potentiel de dangerosité de Bastien qui avait reconnu ses penchants de pédophile. Il y a aussi eu le meurtre de Julie Boisvenu commis par le récidiviste Hugo Bernier qui avait une très longue feuille de route.

Bernier avait été libéré après seulement trois mois d'incarcération pour son dernier crime, une séquestration et agression sexuelle.

Les principales modifications de la loi sont les suivantes:

Toute personne incarcérée sera systématiquement évaluée afin d'établir son profil, son degré de dangerosité et les risques de la remettre en liberté. On en tiendra compte au moment de décider s'il y a lieu de la remettre en liberté conditionnelle.

Chaque détenu aura un dossier informatisé contenant diverses informations provenant de policiers, du système judiciaire ou encore du service fédéral de détention.

Les conditions de sortie seront plus strictes. Aucune personne purgeant une sentence de plus de six mois ne pourra reprendre sa liberté ou obtenir une libération conditionnelle sans que la Commission québécoise de libération conditionnelle n'ait étudié son dossier et les remarques et recommandations des agents des centres de détention.

Pour ce qui est des directeurs, ils devront se limiter à l'autorisation de sorties pour des motifs spécifiques: médicaux, humanitaires et des activités de réinsertion sociale.

Les victimes seront informées systématiquement de la situation de leur agresseur par la Commission québécoise des libérations conditionnelles. On les informera de la date de l'admissibilité de leur agresseur à une libération conditionnelle, des permissions de sortie qui lui seront accordées et de sa sortie de prison.

Pour amorcer les changements dans le système correctionnel, la somme de 9 millions $ sera disponible cette année. Elle passera à 22 millions $ en 2007 au moment où se feront les principales transformations.

De l'embauche sera faite: une centaine de gardiens de prison, d'agents de probation et de commissaires aux libérations conditionnelles.

Pour ce qui est de la décision de construire ou non une prison afin de disposer de davantage de places, le ministre y réfléchit.

"J'ai commandé une évaluation de la capacité carcérale. J'aurai le rapport dans quelques semaines. On verra s'il y a lieu de créer des places. Je pense qu'il faut en ajouter. Dans l'éventualité où on devait construire une prison, on pourrait envisager de le faire en collaboration avec le privé", a indiqué le ministre qui s'est engagé à ce que les gardiens appartiennent au syndicat des agents des services correctionnels.

Pour Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, le père de Julie, et également président de l'Association des familles de personnes assassinées ou disparues, la mise en place de la loi sur le système correctionnel ne se fait pas assez rapidement.

"Elle s'étend sur des années alors que la problématique au plan de la sécurité publique est immédiate", a-t-il dit.

Un autre élément l'inquiète.

"Le ministre a parlé beaucoup d'évaluation, mais ça ne nous assure pas de la mise en place d'une véritable politique de réhabilitation. Les jeunes sortent actuellement de prison davantage criminalisés", a-t-il soutenu.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Pierre - Always Pushing

Réforme du système carcéral
Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu croit que Québec doit aller plus loin

Mise à jour le mardi 25 avril 2006, 17 h 24 .

Pierre-Hugues BoisvenuLe président de l'Association des familles de personnes disparues ou assassinées (AFPAD), Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, se réjouit de l'entrée en vigueur prochaine de la Loi sur le système correctionnel du Québec. Il est toutefois convaincu que Québec doit aller encore plus loin.

Selon le quotidien La Presse, le gouvernement Charest s'apprête à mettre en vigueur cette loi, proposée par le Parti québécois en 2002. Une somme de 10 millions de dollars a déjà été prévue à cette fin. Cette nouvelle législation prévoit notamment que les détenus qui voudront être libérés après six mois de prison devront recevoir l'aval de la Commission québécoise des libérations conditionnelles et non plus des directeurs des établissements carcéraux.

Actuellement, les détenus sont très souvent libérés après avoir purgé un sixième de leur peine. Cette lacune a été particulièrement décriée dans la foulée du meurtre d'Alexandre Livernoche. Son meurtrier, Mario Bastien, avait été libéré par le directeur de la prison de Trois-Rivières, alors que la Commission québécoise des libérations conditionnelles avait demandé plus d'informations à son sujet.

Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, un des responsables de l'activation de cette réforme, se réjouit de voir que le gouvernement Charest s'apprête enfin à bouger. « Les remises en liberté automatiques donnent à mon avis très peu de dents au système et elles viennent banaliser la criminalité », dit-il.

Selon M. Boisvenu, le fait que la Commission des libérations conditionnelles du Québec décidera dorénavant de remettre en liberté ou non un condamné est un bon départ. Il croit toutefois qu'il y a lieu de réfléchir à la réhabilitation des criminels.

Selon lui, il faudrait mettre en place de véritables programmes pour éviter que les détenus s'enlisent dans la criminalité. « Quand je pense qu'un jeune va faire 12, 16 mois de prison, et que tout ce qu'il fait, c'est de l'Internet, du gymnase et de la télévision, je pense que c'est inadmissible. Il faut absolument scolariser ce jeune-là, parce que la scolarisation est la base de la réduction de la criminalité », affirme M. Boisvenu.Le criminaliste Jean-Pierre Rancourt, qui représente toujours la famille Livernoche contre le ministère de la Sécurité publique, est également d'accord avec la réforme. « Je pense qu'on aura peut-être plus de gens en prison, mais on va avoir moins de gens dangereux à l'extérieur », soutient-il.

Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu croit d'ailleurs que les 10 millions de dollars que Québec a prévu pour réformer le système carcéral seront insuffisants. « Il faut absolument qu'on se dote d'un nouveau pénitencier au Québec, sinon, le 10 millions de dollars qu'on va mettre là-dedans va être strictement un diachylon sur une blessure qui est beaucoup plus grande « , affirme le président de l'AFPAD.

Game 3 - Carolina 2, Montreal 1 (OT)

Fine, the Lames take one, but did they have to take Koivu's eye too?

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Limited blogging for the next week

I am studying for my final exams in Ethics and Research Methods (statistics). When I am finished I will be half-way there toward my graduate degree in Justice Administration.

Game Three

Hey Caniacs!

You know those Hurri-lames hand-towels they give out before games to wave like a maniac? Last night I used mine in the bath to wipe the baby's arse.

Go Habs Go!

PRESSE RELEASE

AFPAD/MMPFA SALUTES THE COMMITMENT OF MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY, MR. JACQUES DUPUIS

AFPAD/MMPFA (MURDERED AND MISSING PERSONS’ FAMILIES ASSOCIATION) is satisfied with the commitment made today by the Quebec’s Minister of Public Security on the reform of Quebec’s correctional services and the parole board commission. AFPAD/MMPFA recognizes that the minister proved himself to listen well to the claims of families who lost loved ones to murder by recidivists who were housed in Quebec prisons. With this news and Minister Yvon Marcoux’s announcement in March regarding the 2006 budget AFPAD considers that the government of Quebec has taken concrete action to ensure better security for Quebec women as well as ensuring more rights for the families of murdered and missing persons.

In January 2006 AFPAD met with Minister Dupuis in order to sensitize him on the heightened negative effects that result from suspended sentences and release of criminals without any control measures put into place to evaluate risk factors for recidivsm. Today’s reaction of the minister demonstrates a positive direction in the process of reducing criminal activity amongst our youth and the recidivists in our society. There is still a lot to do especially in the area of rehabilitation of inmates in the Quebec prison system.

AFPAD applauds the government for announcing the additional support that will be provided to victims. However, these measures will be treating the effects of criminal activity. It is very important that the government attack the causes of criminal behaviour and the rehabilitation young criminals in order to reduce this scourge that is contaminating today’s youth. It is unacceptable that our young offenders be expected to stay in prison, whether it is for a short period or long, and not receive any rehabilitation, therapy, education or social skills development before being released. AFPAD deplores the fact that young people who have been detained in Quebec prisons ultimately leave with more of a criminal mindset rather than sense of rehabilitation.

AFPAD intends to bring up this subject at next week’s meeting with the Ministers of Justice, Yvon Marcoux and Minister of Public Security, Jacques Dupuis.

Finally, AFPAD has organized a meeting of its membership families that will be held in Montreal on June 4,2006.

Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu
Président

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Letter to the Editor / La Tribune

I would like to respond to the April 20th article regarding the murder of my sister Theresa Allore and attempts to recover evidence in a forest near Magog.

Mr. Louis-Philippe Ruel of the Sherbrooke Surete du Quebec states that "searches were made at the time my sister was found but that nothing was recovered".

I would like to know what searches Mr. Ruel is referring to? It is impossible thatthe Surete du Quebec attempted any recovery at that time because they never made a connection between the murder of Theresa and the murder of Louise Camirand (if they didn't connect these two events, how would they know where to look?)

Besides, Mr. Ruel refers to events and a case of which he has no experience, knowledge or expertise. May I remind the people of the Eastern Townships that the case file on my sister was taken away from the Sherbrooke SQ in 2002 when they were humiliated in their failure to surmise the factual basis for my sister's death, which was murder. For the past 3 1/2 years that file has resided at the headquarters of the Surete du Quebec in Montreal (and I might add the Montreal SQ is doing an equally miserable job of finding answers to my sister's death.)

It is sad that ordinary citizens must do the work of law enforcement and search for evidence the police never bothered to pursue.

John Allore
Graduate Student / Justice Administration
North Carolina State University
-------------------------------------------

La Tribune (Sherbrooke, Qc)
Actualités,
jeudi 20 avril 2006,

Nouvel essai pour percer un mystère de 27 ansDes proches de Theresa Allore organisent une battue dans une forêt de Magog

Bombardier, David

Vingt-sept ans après la mort de Theresa Allore, des gens font encore des pieds et des mains pour relancer l'enquête. Une battue sera réalisée le 17 juin dans une forêt de Magog dans le but de trouver de nouveaux indices pouvant expliquer le décès de cette étudiante de 19 ans du Collège Champlain de Lennoxville.

"À l'époque, des vêtements ayant appartenu à la victime auraient été vus par deux chasseurs dans ce boisé, raconte la responsable de la battue, Sue Sutherland. Les vêtements n'ont toutefois pas été retrouvés par la police."

En 1979, les enquêteurs avaient conclu que l'étudiante avait succombé à une surdose de drogue. Mais son frère John croit plutôt qu'elle a été victime d'un tueur en série. Cinq mois après sa disparition, la victime avait été retrouvée morte, vêtue seulement de ses sous-vêtements.
En quelques mois, trois autres femmes sont décédées dans la région dans des circonstances similaires. L'une d'elles avait été retrouvée près du boisé qui fera l'objet de la battue, précise Mme Sutherland, qui s'intéresse depuis plusieurs années au cas de Theresa Allore.

Le frère de la victime, John Allore, prendra notamment part à la battue. Mme Sutherland sera aussi de passage dans la région au début de mai afin de distribuer des dépliants à la population. Elle vise ainsi à recruter des bénévoles pour la battue et à trouver des informations qui pourraient relancer l'enquête.

La Sûreté du Québec (SQ a été avisée, indique Mme Sutherland. De son côté, le porte-parole de la SQ en Estrie, Louis-Philippe Ruel, affirme que des battues avaient été effectuées à l'époque.

"Mais si ça peut apporter quelque chose de nouveau, tant mieux, dit-il. L'enquête n'a jamais été fermée, mais elle n'est plus active. Si jamais les gens trouvent quelque chose de significatif, oui, ça pourrait relancer l'enquête, mais pour l'instant, ce ne sont que des spéculations."

Opinions / La Tribune

M. Quiron:

En regard de votre recontre dans La Tribune le 9 fevrier, 2006; quand était exactement le meurtre de Louise Camirand résolu ?

John Allore
Caroline du Nord

La Tribune
(Sherbrooke, Qc)
Actualités,
jeudi 9 février 2006,

Une dizaine de meurtres demeurent non résolus

Quirion, René-Charles

Au moins une dizaine de meurtres survenus dans la région de Sherbrooke demeurent toujours non résolus.

Celui de Roland Giguère, tué en novembre 1968 qui a connu des rebondissements au cours des derniers jours, demeure le plus ancien.

Depuis cet événement qui remonte à 38 ans, les meurtres de quatre femmes et cinq hommes demeurent toujours ouverts par le Service de police de Sherbrooke et la SQ. Les cas de Tersa [THERESA!] Allore, Manon Dubé, Réal Picard ou Diane Couture demeurent entre autres des mystères pour les autorités policières.

"Un dossier de meurtre demeure toujours ouvert tant qu'il n'est pas résolu. Certaines fois, les suspects et les témoins meurent, ce qui fait en sorte que certains dossiers ne seront jamais réglés", soutient le porte-parole du SPS, Michel Martin.

Un élément nouveau, inconnu des enquêteurs, permet de relancer une enquête comme ce fut le cas en 2003 dans le cas du meurtre du restaurateur Giguère.

"Si une nouvelle information du public que nous n'avons jamais eu nous parvient, des vérifications sont faites. Habituellement, des personnes qui ont toujours gardé les informations qu'elles savaient nous contactent et permettent de relancer une enquête", souligne le porte-parole du SPS.

Dans bien des dossiers toujours classés "non résolus" certains éléments permettent de remonter à un suspect. Cependant, un manque de preuves suffisantes ne permet pas de mettre en accusation un individu.

"Certaines nouvelles techniques d'enquêtes peuvent permettre de remonter une filière. Mais dans les dossiers toujours ouverts, les vérifications en ce sens ont été faites", mentionne Michel Martin.

Plus un dossier prend de l'âge, plus il devient difficile de porter des accusations contre des suspects potentiels.

"Lorsque tu dois rencontrer des témoins 36 ou 37 ans plus tard, c'est certain qu'il est plus difficile de faire une enquête. Dans le dossier de Roland Giguère, l'enquête a dû être reprise à zéro. Les détectives ont fait un véritable travail de moine en terme de reconstitutions à partir des techniques d'enquête d'aujourd'hui", indique Michel Martin.

Game 2 - Canadiens 6, Hurricanes 5 (2 OT)

Hip Hip Huet!

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Ya... this is less than illuminating

Vingt-sept ans plus tard, il veut élucider la mort mystérieuse de sa soeur
Caroline Roy
Le Journal de Montréal
23/04/2006 09h29

Theresa Allore est retrouvée morte, à moitié nue, près d'une rivière de Compton en Estrie. La police conclut à un décès par surdose, mais la famille croit plutôt à l'assassinat. Vingt-sept ans plus tard, son frère retourne sur la scène du crime, espérant élucider le mystère.

«Je sais que 27 ans, c'est long. Mais j'espère juste retrouver un restant de vêtements, des boutons, une fermeture éclair», dit John Allore au cours d'une entrevue téléphonique de sa maison en Caroline du Nord.

Le 13 avril 1979, cinq mois après sa disparition, le corps de Theresa Allore est récupéré près de la rivière Coaticook.

La jeune femme de 19 ans étudiait alors au collège Champlain à Lenoxville.

À l'époque, la police suggère que la victime ait été abandonnée par des amis après avoir succombé à une overdose.

Dans son rapport, le coroner est incapable de déterminer la cause exacte de sa mort, son corps étant trop décomposé par l'eau. Il suggère toutefois qu'elle aurait pu être étranglée. Le rapport de toxicologie ne rapporte aucune trace de drogue.

Afin de trouver des indices, John Allore veut ratisser une partie de la forêt, où des vêtements de sa soeur ont été aperçus par des chasseurs une semaine avant la terrible découverte.

«Les chasseurs n'ont jamais pu retrouver l'endroit précis où ils ont vu les vêtements. J'ai toujours voulu aller voir moi-même dans cette forêt», explique M. Allore.

Pour préparer le terrain, il fait appel à Sue Sutherland, une étudiante en criminologie de l'Université de Montréal. Cette dernière doit recruter des bénévoles pour les aider durant la battue, qui se déroulera le 16 juin.

«Il faut être réaliste. On regarde surtout pour les vêtements. C'est la police qui s'occupe d'abord de l'enquête», dit Mme Sutherland.

En 2002, John Allore a réussi à faire rouvrir le dossier auprès de la Sûreté du Québec. Depuis, l'affaire est classée dans les cas non résolus de la section des homicides.

La SQ appuie les recherches de John Allore.

«Si c'est pour aider notre enquête... Mais pour l'instant, on n'a pas de preuve que c'est un acte criminel», affirme Chantal Mackels, porte-parole de la SQ.

À la fin des années 70, deux autres meurtres ont été commis dans la même région où Theresa Allore a été retrouvée.

Game 1 - Canadiens 6, Hurricanes 1

Some thought on being at the RBC Center last night for that great Montreal victory.

21,000-ish fans, that place was LOUD. It was nice to see fans haven't lost any of the enthusiasm from the Toronto semi-final in 2002, though it's hard to understand southern hockey culture when fans save their loudest cheer for a former WWF wrestle in a Canes Jersey.

That first goal... my stomach dropped. Huet looked nervous; Souray, lazy. Hillbilly Happiness, crack the Moonshine Cletus!

An equalizer top shelf, the Habs start to play their book on Gruber - aim high!

Hillybilly Heartache: The Lames can't score on a 55 second 5 on 3. The fans get restless, the situation is made worse by the 4 French Canadian fans in the back who drove all night from Montreal's East End. The "Olay-olay" song begins. The redneck behind me threatens to meet them outside after the game.

DON'T GIVE KOVELEV ANY ROOM. The Lames do it twice and pay mightily for it.

The gutsiest play of the game: Koivu's sprawl pass to Sundstrum who breaks from the penalty box to the net. Sundstrum misses but Higgins banks it off Gruber on the rebound.

Hillbilly Meltdown. Fans are leaving in droves. They miss the final humiliation. Souray atones for his weak defense in the first with a rocket blast from the face off circle. Again, top shelf.

I can't wait for Monday night.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Association Canadienne Aide aux victimes en association avec

2 ième conférence annuelle
Renforcer nos fondations : Une approche de justice centrée sur la victime.
23-26 Octobre, Mississaugua, Ontario

COMMUNIQUÉ.

Nous vous invitions à venir partagez vos idées, et présenter vos recherches à cette deuxième conférence de CAVA/ACAV. Ceci est la seule conférence Canadienne pour les victimes et les services offerts aux victimes. C’est donc le moment de saisir cette occasion en participant à cette conférence qui porte sur la cause des victimes dans ce pays. Parmi les participants, il y aura des victimes, des professionnels venant en aide aux victimes, des représentants de la loi et de la justice , des médias et NGO’s. Les documents présentés à la conférence seront disponibles sur le web et certaines présentations seront diffusées.

Nous vous invitons donc à soumettre vos propositions en rapports avec les liens suivants :

1- Services aux victimes et sujets connexes.
2- Violence familiale
3- Victimes vulnérables
4- Recommandations et réformes
5- Victimisation, peine, décès
6- Les meilleures pratiques nationales et internationales, formations et accréditations
7- Justice réparatrice
8- La violence en milieu scolaire
9- Prendre soin des personne aidantes.

SESSIONS CONFÉRENTIELLES : Les sessions seront d’une durée de 45 ou 90 minutes. Les dates sont 23-26 octobre, 2006. Notre comité d’organisation reste ouvert aux personnes désirant faire des présentations.

CRITÈRES DE SELECTION : Les propositions seront évaluées sur la base des critères suivants : Pertinence avec les thèmes de la conférence Contribution et assistance aux victimes, liens avec les recherches actuelles, nouvelles techniques d’apprentissage sur l’art de la présentation.

Le comité d’organisation peut inviter des présentateurs à se joindre à d’autres présentateurs ayant des sujets similaires ou complémentaires. Afin d’équilibrer le contenu de cette conférence, le comité se réserve le droit de solliciter des conférenciers supplémentaire outre ceux recevant ce communiqué.

Les présentateurs devront acquitter les frais entourant cette conférence, tel que le voyagement, les dépenses courantes. Ceci étant dit, avant d’envoyer vos soumissions, assurez vous qu’elles contiennent les informations suivantes :

Coordonnées (nom, professions, organisation, adresse, numéro de téléphone et numéro de fax et adresse de courriel), ainsi que les coordonnées d’une personne assistante s’il y a lieu.
Titre de présentation, principaux points et description en lien avec les thèmes.
Type de présentation : graphique ou verbal
Résumé bref de la présentation (100 mots)
Temps désiré (45 ou 90 minutes)
Langage de présentation (anglais ou français, ou les deux.)
Besoin de matériel audiovisuel
Bref biographie du présentateur (50 mots)
Une copie électronique de la présentation pour des fins de traduction.
S v p, indiquez si vous seriez prêt à prendre part à une discussion d’une durée d’une heure sur votre présentation à la conférence.

DATE LIMITE DE SOUMISSION : 16 Juin 2006, Présentation en anglais ou en anglais.

Date limite de fin de révision de vos soumissions : 14 Juillet 2006.

Envoyez vos soumissions à : conference@infocava.ca et indiquer (Présentation –conférence) dans le sujet.
Par courrier électronique ou fax :
CAVA Presentation Submission c/oCanadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime100 - 141 Catherine Street Ottawa, OntarioCanada, K2P IC3Fax: (613) 822-4904

Lieu de la conference: Hotel Novotel, 3670 Rue Hurontario, Mississauga, Ontario, L5B 1P3 Canada ▪ Tel: (905) 896-1000 ▪ Email: H0841@accor.com.

Pour une mise à jour de la conference, consultez le site official à : www.infocava.ca

Canadian Association for Victim Assistance (CAVA-ACAV)
In Partnership with

2nd Annual Conference
Strengthening Our Foundation: A Victim-Centered Approach to Justice
Mississauga, Ontario – October 23 - 26

Call For Papers

Come showcase your ideas, present your research at the CAVA-ACAV’s 2nd Conference. This is the only Canadian conference for all victims and victim service providers. It is your one chance to attend a conference on victims’ affairs in this country. Attendees will include victims, victim assistance professionals, law enforcement and justice officials, media and NGO’s. Papers presented at the conference will made available on the web and some presenters will be webcast.

We invite you to submit proposals for conference sessions that fit within one of following tracks:

Victim services and emerging issues

Family violence

Vulnerable victims

Advocacy and reform

Victimization / grief / death

National / international best practices, training & accreditation

Restorative justice

School violence

Caring for the caregiver

WORKSHOP SESSIONS: Concurrent sessions will be 45 or 90 minutes in length. They are scheduled October 23 – 26, 2006. Our planning committee welcomes submissions for individual and panel presentations.

SELECTION CRITERIA: Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: relevance to the conference theme; contribution to victims and victim assistance; link to current research; what the audience will learn; evidence of new and innovative learning and presentation approach.

The Conference Program Committee may request individual presenters join with others who have submitted proposals on similar or complimentary topics. To ensure a balanced program, the Committee reserves the right to solicit presentations in addition to those received through this Call for Papers

Presenters must register and pay the conference registration fee, as well as travel and accommodation expenses. Please ensure your submission includes the following:

Contact information (name, title, organization, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address) and designated contact person if more than one presenter;

Presentation title, program track, and description of session and relevance to conference theme;

Type of session: panel or individual

Brief description of session (100 words)

Desired length - 45 or 90 minutes

Language to be presented in: English or French (In both languages if available)

Audiovisual requirements

Brief presenter(s) bio (50 words each)

An electronic copy of the presentation by September 5th, 2006 for translation

Please indicate if would be willing to take part in a one-hour webcast online discussion about your presentation at the conference.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 16th, 2006 Proposals in English or French.

ACCEPTANCE NOTIFICATION BY : July 14th, 2006.

SEND SUBMISSIONS TO: conference@infocava.ca and indicate ‘Conference Proposal’ in the subject line.

For surface mail or fax, please use:
CAVA Presentation Submission c/oCanadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime 100 - 141 Catherine Street Ottawa, OntarioCanada, K2P IC3Fax: (613) 822-4904

CONFERENCE LOCATION: The Novotel Hotel, 3670 Hurontario Street, Mississauga, Ontario, L5B 1P3 Canada ▪ Tel: (905) 896-1000 ▪ Email: H0841@accor.com

For: CONFERENCE UPDATES: See the Conference Website: http://www.infocava.ca/

Friday, April 21, 2006

now this beats everything

So Sue met with an old friend of Theresa's this afternoon, Terry. Terry probably knew my sister better than anyone (certainly better than me).

Terry told Sue that for a career Theresa wanted to be...

A Criminologist!!!!!!!!

You've got to be f$#@ing kidding me.

Keep Carl Your Judge?

Over at Orange Politics Mayor Mark has a nice rundown of the judicial races coming up on May 2nd. Here in Orange County the Superior Court Judge race features Chuck Anderson, Allen Baddour, Carl Fox, Ken Oettinger, Michael Patrick, and Adam Stein. You get to pick two.

Many have already thrown in their chips with Fox.

Mark Kleinschmidt writes,

"Stein and Fox stand head and shoulders above their competition. We would be extraorinarily blessed to have two such highly accomplished jurist on the bench in Orange County."

Adds Catherine Devine,

"I lean toward Carl Fox for Superior Court because he’s spent so much time in the trenches and thinks like a judge. Carl made a big mistake as DA last year that resulted in a false arrest. Lessons learned count toward experience."

But Ruby Sinreich offers this response,

"It’s hard for me to see Fox’s mistake in the Dalzell case as a reason to support him, as Catherine does. I thought it indicated both an error in judgement and a failure to take responsibility. With all the other good candidates in the running, he won’t be getting one of my votes."

To which I say ABSO-F$%#ING-LUTELY

Carl Fox was the guy that told police it was ok to use a piece of his stationery, forge his signature and make Andrew Dalzell believe he would face a death sentence unless he confessed to the murder of Deborah Key (a tact that was used, and I might note permitted some years ago in a murder trial in Eastern North Carolina).

When the shit-hit-the-fan and the police were criticized Carl pulled a vanishing act and let the police hang out to dry.

This is beyond poor judgement. Dalzell walked. DA Fox got promoted to judge. And Deborah Key is STILL missing nine years after having been last seen with Dalzell in a Carrboro parking lot at two in the morning.

Poor judgement... try FUBAR.

On May 2nd don't reward Fox for his reprehensible behavior. There is a pool of qualified candidates. Vote for one of them.

End of a long Journey

A message from Doreen Drummond:

Just to let all of you know that today Judge Champagne handed down his decision that Morin - Cousineau will have to spend 13 yrs in prison before he is eligable to request parole. This means that he has already served 18 mos, therefore will be eligable in 11.5 yrs. Please remember that the key word here is "eligable".

We are satisfied with the decision and understand the judge had to base his decsion on judice prudence.

Our family will now turn the page of this book and move forward keeping Kelly-Anne memory alive through the Kelly-Anne Drummond foundation with the Lifesaving society of Quebec.
I would like to extend how grateful I am to all of you for your kind thoughts ,prayers , gifts, cards, emails and visits to court throughout our ordeal.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Where I'm Currently Drawing My Strength

1. Sue's energy

2. Pierre and Diane's perseverance

3. Amelia's chess-club brain

4. Theresa Grace's heart

5. Ava's smile

6. Water

7. Attempts to stay focused at work

8. American Idiot (it gets me through 60 minutes on the stationary bike)

9. The family of wrens that set up shop in our garage

10. Terry's generosity

-----------------------------------------------------
UPDATE:

Not these American idiots, THIS AMERICAN IDIOT. Idol is where America goes for false hope (kinda like when I turn to the Habs and pray for them to kick Carolina's ass in the playoffs)

In Today's Post

A new search, 27 years later
Brother takes lead in probing woman's death

Allison Hanes, National Post
Published: Thursday, April 20, 2006

A search party will set out on June 17 to retrace the steps of two Eastern Townships hunters who may long ago have stumbled across clues crucial to solving the mysterious disappearance and death of Theresa Allore.

The team of volunteers, led by a Universite de Montreal criminology student, will comb through the brush off a country road near Austin, Que., on the lookout for women's clothing the hunters reported seeing neatly folded on a log days after the 19-year-old college student went missing.

The effort is remarkable for several reasons.

Theresa was found dead in 1979, so the searchers will be looking to recover evidence that may have sat unclaimed in the woods for 27 years.

And what -- if anything -- they find may bring the Allore family one step closer to answering the question that has haunted them for three decades: did Theresa die accidentally, or was she murdered?

Theresa's younger brother John Allore -- a 43-year-old married father of two now living in North Carolina -- is realistic about the prospect of unearthing fresh clues so long after the fact.

But he is determined to try.

"The point is not, 'I found something.' The point is, 'I tried. I turned over another stone,' " he said. "I can't go forward without at least saying, 'I went there and I looked.' "

Theresa vanished from her Champlain College dormitory in Lennoxville, Que., on the night of Nov. 3, 1978.

Her decomposing body was found face down in a stream in nearby Compton five months later. She was clad only in her bra and panties.

At the time, local police wrote off the bright, promising student's death as the result of experimentation with LSD, other drugs or "lesbianism" gone awry.

But after undertaking his own five-month investigation with an old friend and journalist in 2002, Mr. Allore found evidence Theresa may have been murdered -- perhaps by a serial killer stalking the countryside around Sherbrooke in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Manon Dube, 10, and Louise Camirand, 20, disappeared under similar circumstances, in the same geographical area, at the same time as Theresa. Mr. Allore believes those cases are likely linked to his sister's.

And since starting an online blog, Mr. Allore has received other credible tips, leaving him even more convinced the deaths were the work of a serial killer.

He has now compiled a list of 16 incidents -- attacks, encounters and sexual assaults -- that occurred in the area at the time, any of which may be connected.

Mr. Allore has handed the information -- including the names of four suspects -- over to the Quebec provincial police.

But 3 1/2 years later, the Surete du Quebec have not adopted his theory of the crime.

Chantal Mackels, an SQ spokeswoman, confirmed yesterday the cold case is still an open file in the hands of the investigators.

"But we can't say that it's a murder. We don't know the cause of death," she said. "To us, it's a suspicious death."

Although Mr. Allore has grown increasingly frustrated with police, he is buoyed by the support of countless others who reached out to him through his blog, www.whokilledtheresa.com.

Foremost is Sue Sutherland.

The 27-year-old Universite de Montreal criminology student was only six months old when Theresa died. But she will lead the search party in June expected to include dozens of volunteers, John Allore and his older brother Andre Allore, as well as a handful of Theresa's old friends.

She felt drawn to lend her skills to the unresolved case that she believes inexperienced and territorial small-town police bungled in the first place, and present-day investigators have neglected.

Because the clothes -- which matched the description of the dark corduroy slacks and T-shirt Theresa was last seen wearing -- were spotted in the woods, there is a slim possibility they could have been preserved, Ms. Sutherland said.

Any scrap of fabric, button, zipper or thread may also offer the first opportunity to obtain a DNA sample. In 2002, Mr. Allore learned police had long ago tossed his sister's underwear in the trash.

"The chances of finding anything are not enormous, but they're not non-existent," Ms. Sutherland said. "It's worth doing."

She is hoping to recruit as many volunteers as possible for the search party, and will be backed by the non-profit search and rescue group Secours Quebec on June 17.

But she is still waiting for the lead SQ investigator in Theresa's file, Sergeant-Detective Benoit Patenaude, to return her call.

Even though police are not participating in the operation, she said she still needs the experienced investigator's input on the latest forensic methods to use at the site.

What is at stake, Ms. Sutherland said, is figuring out whether a serial killer might still be out and bringing him to justice.

For Mr. Allore, the search is also a symbolic act -- of both his undying drive to solve the secret of his sister's death and his endless frustration with police inertia in the case.

"I find it incredibly uplifting on one hand that all these people want to come out and help after all these years ... and incredibly depressing on the other that 30 people are getting together to do the job of the police."

To join the search party, e-mail justice4theresa@hotmail.com.

Monday, April 17, 2006

I've a lot of school work and work-work this week, I'll be busy so be patient.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Funny, but not Ha-Ha Funny

This is my sister. My dead sister.

It was much like on a day like today that Theresa's body was found outside of Compton (April, 13th, Good Friday, Easter Weekend).

I'm going to take you through a bit of this. She was found in the morning by a trapper, Robert Ride, who went to that place to plant muscrat traps. When he first saw the body he thought it was a maniquin.

Police arrived around 11:00 am -12:00 noon. The initial report by the coroner at the scene of the crime noted marks of strangulation around her neck (These marks were not detected, or undectable by Montreal coroners by the time the body arrived at the laboratoire at the SQ headquarters).

In the photo you see detectives Roch Gaudreault and Jaques Quiron looking into a garbage bag. This bag contained women's clothing, but not Theresa's clothing (a pink sweater and some other things). It was found 0.2 miles up the road in the ditch at the entrance to the Gagnon farm.

Because it was Good Friday and we were with relatives in Southern Ontario, the police could not initially find us to make notification. The SQ actually rounded up three students who were not friends of Theresa and asked them to identify the body (can you imagine being a kid and asked to do that.)

The maps are not very clear but I'll try and spell it out for you. I think you can identify the bridge ("pont"). Curious is the scarf ("foulard") in two pieces; one piece is 15.30 meters from the road, the second lies 16.40 meters from the other piece - 25.30 meters from the body.

Upper left it says "sautien gorge, culotte blanche"

The body lied 34 meters from the road. In the upper left corner is the location of the Gagnon farm house. The maps were made by detective N Gregoire at 12:10 pm.

Ray Davies - Love it

But things are gonna change
This is the morning after
My turn to get pushed in the face
Feeling right down, resurrecting the clown
Yeah I bloody well will
You look around for which way to go
But where you gonna turn?

And when the morning after
Pleads to take no more
We patch up the last disaster
Slower, faster, crawl out through the door
And do it all again
But things have gotta change
This is the morning after

You feel shite, the air bites
Oh will I ever learn?
Your ear's deaf, your girl's left
Never to return
But it's the morning after
All that went before
And now you paid your debt
Get up you wreck, and crawl out through the door
Oh, love will return

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Vraiment, "Nous chercherons une aiguille dans une botte de foin" mais,

Who Cares!

We're going to do it anyway!

Forum
Universite de Montreal
Volume 40 - numÉro 27 - 10 avril 2006

Theresa Allore aurait été assassinée par un tueur en série

Une étudiante prépare une fouille méthodique de terrain pour relancer l’enquête

Theresa Allore, 19 ans, a été retrouvée morte dans un fossé de Compton, en Estrie, le 14 avril 1979, environ cinq mois après sa disparition. La dernière fois qu’on l’avait vue vivante, cette étudiante du collège Champlain, à Lennoxville, s’apprêtait à retourner à sa résidence d’étudiante pour écouter de la musique avec des amis. À l’époque, l’enquête avait conclu à un décès par surdose. La jeune femme aurait été abandonnée en lisière de la forêt par ses amis fêtards.

Mais comment expliquer qu’elle n’ait eu sur elle que ses sous-vêtements? «Elle a été tuée, j’en suis convaincue», lance Sue Tayachi, une jeune femme qui se destine à la criminologie à l’Université de Montréal. Pour le prouver, elle veut exhumer des pièces à conviction qui pourraient permettre d’élucider cette affaire qui remonte à 28 ans et qui est toujours classée dans les «cas non résolus» à la section des homicides de la Sûreté du Québec. Elle compte en juin prochain passer au peigne fin les lieux du crime, à Compton.

Sue Tayachi

Sue Tayachi a eu cette idée en discutant avec le frère de la victime, John Allore, convaincu lui aussi que sa sœur a été assassinée. En 2002, M. Allore (qui vit maintenant en Caroline du Nord) est même parvenu à faire rouvrir le dossier sur cette mort mystérieuse.

Cela dit, les autorités policières ont actuellement d’autres urgences que de chercher d’éventuels indices datant de près de trois décennies. «C’est bien évident que nous chercherons une aiguille dans une botte de foin, dit l’étudiante. Mais il me semble que ça vaut la peine d’essayer.»

Elle espère obtenir l’aide de plusieurs étudiants de l’UdeM pour sa fouille méthodique, qui aura lieu le 16 juin. Une quinzaine de personnes ont déjà prévu de faire le voyage.

L’histoire de Theresa Allore semble relever de la fiction. La mort de la jeune femme est d’autant plus suspecte qu’elle n’est pas la seule à être survenue en Estrie. À l’intérieur d’une période de 18 mois à la fin des années 70, trois meurtres ont été commis dans la région. Ces cas sont toujours non résolus. De plus, d’autres incidents violents auprès de femmes ont été rapportés à la police. «Une quinzaine d’agressions sexuelles se seraient produites à cette époque», relate Sue Tayachi.

Le tueur de Theresa court-il toujours? C’est possible, explique Mme Tayachi. Mais il pourrait aussi être emprisonné. «Les tueurs en série se font parfois attraper pour d’autres forfaits et passent quelques années en prison sans jamais avouer leurs crimes les plus graves. Le danger, c’est qu’ils récidivent une fois libérés. Et ils n’ont pas l’air de monstres sanguinaires. Les tueurs en série sont souvent de beaux jeunes hommes de 25 à 35 ans, plus intelligents que la moyenne. En général, leurs victimes ne s’en méfient pas.»

Elle souligne que deux jeunes filles, Jolène Riendeau et Julie Surprenant, sont toujours portées disparues et qu’elles pourraient bien avoir été victimes d’un tueur.

Sue Tayachi précise qu’elle n’est pas une spécialiste des homicides ou des tueurs en série. Elle se décrit comme une passionnée de criminologie intriguée par les affaires de meurtres. D’ailleurs, sa curiosité s’étend jusqu’aux criminels eux-mêmes, au point d’avoir été bénévole au pénitencier de Cowansville. Elle s’est déjà retrouvée assise à la même table que des assassins et des violeurs notoires. Une démarche qu’elle s’impose afin de «comprendre». Y arrive-t-elle? «Oui, répond-elle après un moment d’hésitation. Je peux comprendre les réactions d’agressivité de certaines personnes qui ont grandi dans la violence et l’humiliation. Mais il faut penser aux victimes...»

Quand Forum a rencontré l’étudiante, elle sortait justement de son cours de victimologie, où il avait été question de la «double victimisation», un phénomène qui touche actuellement la famille de Theresa Allore. La famille de la jeune femme est de nouveau envahie par la douleur alors qu’on spécule toujours sur la façon dont ses derniers jours se sont passés.

Mathieu-Robert Sauvé

Pour ceux qui sont interessés à participer à la battue, écrivez à: justice4theresa@hotmail.com

Duke Lacrosse Probe

In consideration of the value of grand juries:

"Typically, the grand jury, which is comprised of 18 unnamed citizens, is presented evidence by the lead investigator and only hears the prosecution's side of the case. In this situation, jurors will likely read the victim's statement, see the hospital report and look at pictures of possible injuries.

The jurors must then decide whether there is enough evidence to pursue charges against the accused."

That description is pretty consistent with what I know of the role of grand juries. Given this, shouldn't we reconsider using this method in the legal process?

Seventeen-year-old Darlene Priorello was raped, tortured and murdered by David Dobson in 1982. Recently, out of concern that Dobson might get paroled, the family launched a website.

No Freedom for Dobson is brilliant. The site doesn't use hearsay, opinions and gossip. Only facts concerned with the case (subpoenas, the court verdict, the killer's interviews).

If you have the stomach read David Dobson's confession which gives insight of how a sexual predator trolls for victims, commits his crime, then falls completely into the abyss in the aftermath.

--------------------------

And yes, 27 years ago today my sister's body was found off chemin de la station in Compton.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

For Immediate Release
April 12, 2006

Search Party Organized to find Cold Case Evidence

On Saturday, June 17th a search will be conducted of a property near the Magog region of the Eastern Townships to attempt to retrieve possible evidence concerning the 1978 murder of Theresa Allore.

Background

Theresa Allore was last seen on the evening of Friday, November 3, 1978 in Lennoxville, Quebec. Her body was found the following spring, April 13th, 1979 in Compton, Quebec. On Saturday, November 4th, 1978 two hunters – Stephen Mandigo and Samuel Burnham – spotted clothing in the woods off Giguare road near Austin, Quebec. The location was ¼ a mile down Giguare road, about 500 yards into the interior of the forest, left off Giguare. The hunters described seeing “darkish pants and a t-shirt”. Theresa Allore was last seen wearing dark blue corduroys and a t-shirt. On Wednesday, November 15th, 1978 the hunters and the chief of the Lennoxville police went back to the sight but were unable to re-locate the clothing.

The sighting of the clothing is significant for two reasons:

1. Theresa Allore’s clothing was never recovered.

2. The Giguare road sight is within a few hundred yards of where the body of Louise Camirand was discovered on Friday, March 25th 1977 sexually assaulted and murdered.

The Search

On Saturday, June 17th 2006 volunteers will gather at the Giguare road location to search the surrounding area in attempt to recover the remains of any possible evidence related to this case.

Organization

The search party is being coordinated by Sue Tayachi, a criminology student at the University of Laval. Sue has studied the investigation of Theresa Allore’s murder, and remains in contact with John Allore, the younger brother of Theresa. John has been investigating the murder of his sister since 2002.

The Police

The lead investigators and members of the Surete du Quebec have been contacted regarding this search. It is hoped that they will provide their valuable assistance and expertise to this matter. So far the police have been unresponsive to pleas for assistance.

The Allore Family

The Allore family endorses and is grateful for the efforts of Ms. Tayachi. The Allores may take part in the search, but as of now they are appreciative that a criminologist is taking the lead in this endeavor, and they hope that the police will also assist. The Allore family has always maintained that t is not the place of family members to conduct such investigations – that work should be left to professionals. The last four years - since the discovery that their loved one was murdered – have been difficult on the Allore family. The Allores would prefer not to take part in this event, but they are hopeful that evidence will be recovered that will help discover the person that killed Theresa.

For further information, or to volunteer to join the search party please contact:

justice4theresa@hotmail.com

Monday, April 10, 2006

Email I received today

"Hi!

I'm a reporter at Radio-Canada Sherbrooke Québec.

I've heard a search will be going on in june to find anything related to Theresa death. Do you know who is conducting this search. We would like to have more information. Please contact me as soon as possible.

Brigitte MArcoux

It would be far too easy to scapegoat one university for allowing boys to be brutes. But in the institution's hurry to protect its students, right or wrong, it seemed to forget its role of educating and reassuring a community large than itself.

Allan Gurganus in yesterday's New York Times on Duke Lacrosse, responsibility and why there is no one to admire.

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Town Without Pity

Ascribing to the "don't shit where you eat theory", I've kept silent on the Duke University lacrosse scandal. You haven't heard this little story? It's the one where 60 drunken athletes invite strippers to their frat house and one of the strippers accuses the boys of gang rape. Add that the strippers are black and the lacrosse players are white, throw in a DA who is up for re-election and you've got the makings of a trashy pot-boiler even this tired old windbag can't resist.

There is some question whether the accuser is being entirely forthcoming in this case. Hey, not that the lacrosse team are angels... get a load of this class act.

Sweetums wanted to "cut their skin off"

But the whole thing is confusing and confused. It's giving me a headache and I wish the news trucks would shuffle-off-to-Buffalo (or to 24-hour news land as the case may be). See I work in Durham. Said frat house is on my jogging route. And everybody in town has an opinion on this goat-rodeo. (dare I tell anyone lacrosse is Canada's national sport?).

Not that Canada doesn't have its collegiate controversies. Playboy has just voted McGill one of North America's top 10 party campuses, complete with nudie photos of young freshwomen.

Miss May - Turnoffs: Mean People, The Washington Nationals, Poutine

This after my neighbors spotted the Quebec flag hanging from my Carolina porch and wanted to know if Montreal was a safe place to send their 18-year-old daughter who just got accepted to McGill. "Yes", I gushed, "McGill is the best place for the complete undergraduate experience, I'd send my own daughters if they were old enough!"

Great, now I'm the sexual degenerate next door.

UPDATE: An excellent article in today's News and Observer on the culture of arrogance on college campuses - especially Duke. And Security On Campus is having a field day with this one.

Friday, April 07, 2006

Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. Und wenn du lange in einen Abgrund blickst, blickt der Abgrund auch in dich hinein.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Holy Cold-Cases Batman!

Body in Truscott case exhumed for DNA tests

JOE FRIESEN AND JULIAN SHER
Globe and Mail
With a report from Murray Campbell

A case that has haunted Canada for decades took an unusual turn yesterday as the body of 12-year-old Lynne Harper, buried for 47 years, was exhumed by the coroner's office for DNA testing.

Steven Truscott, her 14-year-old neighbour in the Lake Huron community of Clinton, Ont., was convicted of Lynne's 1959 murder and spent years on death row before being released on parole in 1969. In 2004, a report by a retired judge concluded there had been a miscarriage of justice. The case was later referred to Ontario's Court of Appeal for review.

The exhumation was carried out under the orders of Ontario Attorney-General Michael Bryant with the consent of Lynne's family. Mr. Bryant said her relatives were present yesterday at the United Church cemetery in Union, Ont., 40 kilometres south of London, where a team of forensic experts observed the procedure.

"The decision to do this was made with a lot of consideration and consultation with forensic pathologists, forensic anthropologists and most importantly in consultation with Lynne Harper's family," Mr. Bryant told reporters at Queen's Park.

"Although the ability to obtain DNA does diminish over time, there still remains the possibility, and we have an obligation before the Court of Appeal to obtain as much information as possible and bring it before the court on the Truscott reference."

Observing the exhumation on behalf of Mr. Truscott's lawyers from the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted were John Butt, former chief medical examiner for Nova Scotia and Alberta and now a private consultant in forensic pathology, and Edward Blake, a DNA expert from California.

Dr. Blake has worked on more than 50 post-conviction exonerations through DNA work. He said this is the first time he had seen an attempt to secure DNA evidence from a body buried so long ago.

"A body that has been buried 50 years has significant challenges," he said, but added: "The mere fact that something is 50 years old does not preclude success."

Ontario Chief Coroner Dr. Barry McLellan said Lynne's remains would be sent to Toronto where samples would be taken. If possible, the remains will be reburied later today.

Any evidence gathered will be made available to Crown and defence lawyers before the Court of Appeal hears Mr. Truscott's case, beginning June 19.

Mr. Truscott lived in anonymity for nearly 30 years after being released from prison in 1969. He stepped forward in 1997, seeking to prove his innocence with the help of AIDWYC, and offered his DNA for testing. But an exhaustive search found no evidence from the crime scene to test against his genetic material.

When Lynne was buried June 13, 1959, the town of Clinton, near the eastern shore of Lake Huron, and the local air force base were traumatized by grief.

"I think everyone wants to see an end to this [case]," said town resident Bryan Glover, who knew the Harpers and the Truscotts. "And if this helps, well that would be a great thing."

FYI - Canada now has a Victims Week

http://www.victimsweek.gc.ca/.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Ok I'm Back

And there's been a lot going on... especially the incredible and thorough job Sue has done in organizing a search party (Sue, I think you're a better investigator than me; I hope you are getting university credit for your work!).

I have heard nothing from the SQ, which is troubling as I, Sue and AFPAD have all tried contacting the lead investigator in Theresa's case. I think he's thinking, "well fuck them if they're going to give me a hard time", but unfortunately - for the police - pubic service doesn't operate that way.

I have a theory of who killed Theresa (brought to light by one of our readers), I'm sorry to be coy, but I can't say anything just yet until I check something out, but let me say it all has been discussed on this blog, there's nothing new I'm holding back.

I will be presenting at an event called SHOUT OUT AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN here in Chapel Hill later this month. Actually, I'm reading something I wrote on Theresa and Deborah Key. I'm a little nervous about it as I've never really "gone public" down here. I'll keep you posted.

The Car Jack

I'm sorry to say, but that was Louise (I'm surprized that woman new that).

Where Theresa was found. Yes, it is on the right side of Chemin de la Station, and on the right side of the water (cornfield to the right with a blue and red farm house in the back). I will post the crime scene map (that should help). Theresa wasn't found at the first bridge on Chemin / Compton, but the second one (hey, it took me six trips to finally figure this out!).

It's so confusing that my parents actually went to place flowers on the site a couple of years ago and wound up putting them on the wrong place, on the wrong road!

JJA

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

A Grave Man

Two of our three daughters at the grave sight of my grandfather-in-law, Mr. Brownlee... a Braves fan.

Kink

If you don't know Something Else...

or The Village Green Preservation Society ...

more fool you.

Now - out of the blue - Ray Davies gives us Other Peoples' Lives.

So brilliant. It makes anything in the last 27 years by the Stones and Sir Mac look like a joke.

Buy it.

Who Killed Theresa?