Homolka discussion
'Brutal period' over for victims' families
Saturday, June 4, 2005 Page A7
With reports from Oliver Moore, Karen Howlett and Canadian Press
STONY CREEK, ONT., ST. CATHARINES, ONT. -- Although he had despaired of a justice system he feels gives more rights to criminals than their victims, Robert Mahaffy was gratified to hear that restrictions would be placed on the woman who participated in the murder of his daughter, once she is released from prison.
"Good, very good," Mr. Mahaffy said at his home in Stoney Creek yesterday. "We've had to fight like hell to protect our daughter. We're still without our daughter.
"I'd just as soon [see] Karla and [Paul Bernardo] rot in jail. But that's not going to happen, so what the hell can I do about it?"
Ontario Attorney-General Michael Bryant, who helped plan Karla Homolka's restricted freedom, told reporters that "Canada's justice system acted, not reacted, to prevent harm upon Homolka's release and to protect the public upon Homolka's release."
He said the conditions imposed on her resulted from unprecedented collaboration between Crown lawyers in Quebec and Ontario. He also said he will do all he can to protect Ontarians and to work with officials across the country to protect Canadians upon her release.
Right now, Mr. Bryant said, his thoughts are with the victims and their families. "This has been a brutal period for them. To have to relive this again has been particularly difficult."
He would not speculate on whether he would seek an extension of the restrictions beyond the one-year period. But he has asked justice ministers in other provinces and territories to bring in multi-year recognizance orders.
Tim Danson, the lawyer for the Mahaffy family as well as the family of Kristen French, said from Montreal that his clients were relieved with the hearing's outcome.
"The Frenches expressed enormous relief," he said. "They're also relieved that Karla Homolka did not get away with what they perceived to be just another attempt to manipulate the system."
At the Homolka home in St. Catharines yesterday, all was quiet and the blinds were tightly shut.
In Stoney Creek, Mr. Mahaffy said he has been able to move forward.
"It's hard, but it's something that has to happen."