Deal or No Deal?

When it comes to the Canadian justice system, people have a lot to say (and complain about, apparently).

Personally, I am proud of the fact that we do not use Capital Punishment in this country because, for so many reasons, it simply does not work. Many believe in the mentality of 'an eye for an eye' but I am more partial to the camp that 'an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind' (thank you, Gandhiji). Aside from the many moral deliberations behind execution, financially it is more costly because the countless appeals that inevitably take place, not to mention the cost of execution itself which is a pretty penny. Furthermore, I cannot fathom how death is a punishment. I am constantly challenged on this - "you think Paul Bernardo deserves to LIVE?" Well, no...but I don't believe he deserves to die because that would be giving a man like him the easy way out. Bernardo thrives off brutality, rape and misogynistic torture - these things are his passion. There may be no greater punishment for any human than taking away their exercise of passion and I truly believe he is tortured daily by the fact that he will never, ever again be able live his desires.

So if life in prison isn't my issue, what is? How about the deal with the devil. When someone brings up Paul Bernardo, my first thought turns to Karla Homolka. Most people are aware of the specifics on what happened with our justice system during the Bernado/Homolka trial and I, like most others, believe this was one time our justice system failed us. Not only did the woman assist and enable Bernardo in raping and killing two young girls, but she also assisted in his rape of her OWN SISTER (which also resulted in death). Homolka makes a deal with the prosecution to give the videos of the girls' murders and she gets a measly twelve years in prison. Unfortunately, the videos showed that Homolka partook in the action much more than earlier anticipated. Contrary to the popular argument, Homolka was no victim. She was a sociopath who found another one and while this attraction is rare it does happen more than once.

Admittedly, my blood still boils thinking about this horrific mistake. But what is done is done and nothing will change the poor decision made by the prosecution in 1993. Flash forward to 2009 and today we received the sad news that the remains of Victoria Stafford were found outside of Guelph. I have been following this story lately because I am curious and nervous to see if another deal with the devil is in the works. Terri-Lynne McClintic and Michael Rafferty are the two accused of both kidnapping and murdering the young girl, though the video evidence clearly shows McClintic leading the young girl away from her school. It is all too similar to the Bernardo/Homolka dynamic. Most terrifying is the prospect that because McClintic "aided" police on a helicopter search of where she believed Stafford's body to be, she may possibly receive less of a harsh sentance - another stark similarity to Homolka.

I am crying out, for the sake of Victoria Stafford's memory, that there be no deal made for McClintic. In the end, she did not help the police at all and probably enjoyed the helicopter joyride before resuming her life in prison. I will be appauled if the prosecution even considers giving that woman a deal - because at the end of the day it was she who is seen on the security video leading the young girl away, leading the young girl to her death.

We need to learn from our mistakes. The families of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy have to continue living knowing that Homolka lives her life normally, has children and works a normal job - everything their daughters would too be doing, if they were spared their from their cruel fate. I hope that the Canadian justice system does not fail Victoria Stafford's family in the same way.