JOLIETTE, QUE. -- A Quebec judge slapped 14 harsh restrictions on Karla Homolka's freedom, putting an end to her intimate relationship with a killer and severely limiting her movement after she's released from jail next month.
Judge Jean Beaulieu deliberated for just 10 minutes yesterday before ruling that Homolka is a danger to society.
"She has refused to discuss in depth the circumstances of her crimes, which makes it impossible for her to grasp the enormity of them," Beaulieu said. "We must beware of those people who commit serious offences who do not have the courage to face them."
Beaulieu rejected arguments by Homolka's lawyer, Sylvie Bordelais, that her client should not face restrictions after her July 4 release. Bordelais noted that the infamous schoolgirl killer is willing to continue her therapy and argued the restrictions violate her rights.
REPORT TO COP SHOP
The restrictions on Homolka, which are intended to prevent her from disappearing, require her to report to the Montreal police station closest to her new home before 4 p.m. on the day of her release and report back the first Friday of every month for the next year.
Homolka is also banned from associating with other violent criminals, including her new boyfriend, Jean-Paul Gerbet, who's serving a life sentence for killing his ex.
"We're in 2005 and Madame is returning to the same pattern," Beaulieu said of Homolka's relationship with Gerbet, comparing it to the one she had with Paul Bernardo.
Homolka and Gerbet hooked up after they met at the Ste Anne des Plaines federal institution. They exchanged clean underwear and he gave her a nude picture of himself which was seized by prison staff.
Beaulieu heard that the couple have been exchanging love letters, as often as twice a week, in which they plan a future life together.
Beaulieu said Homolka's refusal to cut her ties with Gerbet after she was told to do so by Joliette prison staff swayed him to restrict her freedom for the next year.
As Beaulieu read the restrictions, Homolka remained stonefaced with her fists clenched on her lap, sporting frosty pink lipstick and wearing a faux-suede dark grey shirt, black dress pants and Mary Jane shoes.
Homolka signed Beaulieu's conditions and asked her lawyer to let the public know she intends to abide by them. "She wanted me to tell you that her intention and her desire is to respect all the conditions."
Bordelais said Homolka understands Canadians are angry with her and she wants to make sure she doesn't do anything to exacerbate those feelings.
WANTS TO SEE FAMILY
"She never wanted to do anything wrong and she doesn't want to raise animosity and fear and any bad feelings," Bordelais said.
"The only thing she was ready to fight for is the right to see her family, her niece and nephew."
Ontario Chief Crown attorney James Ramsay said if Homolka is caught breaching any of the conditions, she'll face two years in jail.
Ramsay sought to have Homolka banned from public places frequented by children, such as schools and parks. That condition, usually reserved for pedophiles, was left out of Beaulieu's ruling. The judge also didn't prohibit Homolka from drinking.
"There's only so much a court can do, but what can be done was done," Ramsay said.
Tim Danson, the lawyer representing the families of victims Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy, said the French family expressed relief at the restrictions and are "very pleased with the decision."
The judge rejected defence psychologist Louis Morissette's argument that Homolka has a low risk of re-offending.
Morissette said he came to the conclusion that Homolka was mostly rehabilitated after meeting with her for 3 1/2 hours in May.
Morissette said Homolka is not a psychopath, has no anti-social behaviour, is not a sexual deviant and has developed better self-esteem.
"She responds like a normal person," he said.
Morissette did express concern over her relationship with Gerbet, which he feared could be as dangerous as the one with Bernardo.
"Her risk of re-offending is linked to her relationship," he said, backing the requirement that Homolka continue to undergo therapy.
The Quebec and Ontario governments will have to negotiate who will pick up the tab for Homolka's therapy over the next year.
STRICT RULES
Over the next year, Homolka must:
- Check in with police once a month.
- Give police her address and tell them about her job and roommates.
- Advise police of any change in her name or address.
- Stay away from drugs.
- Not work anywhere she would have access to barbiturates.
- Not work with people under 16 or have any ties of authority with anyone under 16.
- Undergo regular therapy.
- Give a DNA sample.
- Stay away from the families of her victims.
- Not associate with violent criminals.
- Give police 96 hours' notice if she wants to leave Quebec.
stephanie.rubec@tor.sunpub.com