(OTTAWA) The family of one of Paul Bernardo’s victims only learned that the inmate was to be transferred to a medium-security prison the day the transfer took place, according to his lawyer.
Tim Danson, who represents the families of two of Bernardo’s victims, said in an open letter on Friday that Kristen French’s family was not notified of the serial killer and rapist’s transfer until the morning of May 29.
“In the early afternoon, they were told that the transfer was complete,” he wrote in a letter to Anne Kelly, the commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada.
Bernardo is currently serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, torture and murder of 15-year-old Kristen French and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy in the early 1990s in Ontario.
He was also convicted of manslaughter in connection with the death of Tammy Homolka, who died after being drugged and sexually assaulted.
The 15-year-old was the sister of his then-wife Karla Homolka, who was paroled in 2005 after 12 years in prison for her role in the crimes against Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy.
Bernardo was previously imprisoned at the maximum security institution of Millhaven, near Kingston, Ontario, but he has just been transferred to the medium security institution of La Macaza, in the Laurentians.
The letter of Me Danson comes as the decision to transfer the 58-year-old to another prison is causing turmoil in Ottawa and the Ontario Legislative Assembly.
This week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford asked Mr.me Kelly to resign – or be fired – as a result of the decision.
Me Danson made it clear in his letter that the families of the victims want Bernardo’s transfer cancelled. He also raised concerns about how the Federal Corrections Service notified families of victims of the controversial decision.
The Correctional Service confirmed in its statements released in the last week that it informed the families of the victims before the transfer, as well as after it occurred.
In his letter, Mr.e Danson noted, however, that Kristen French’s family seemed to have found out only that day.
For their part, the Mahaffy family had “the distinct impression that the transfer had already taken place, or at best was imminent” when contacted.
“Does anyone at (Correctional Service of Canada) understand the devastating grief experienced by the Mahaffy family at this time of year? “wrote M.e Danson, bringing up the fact that the anniversary of Leslie Mahaffy’s kidnapping day is fast approaching.
Federal Corrections did not respond to a request for comment on when it contacted the family.
Right to privacy
Earlier Friday, the Correctional Service of Canada maintained that it has an obligation to protect Bernardo’s right to privacy, even though the federal Minister of Public Safety believes that Canadians have a right to know why the detainee was transferred to a medium security prison.
According to Minister Marco Mendicino, the Canadian public deserves to know why he was transferred from a maximum security prison to a medium security prison.
However, federal corrections spokesman Kevin Antonucci wrote that under the Privacy Act, the independent body cannot release an inmate’s personal information without their consent. , “except in specific circumstances”.
Custody classification and transfers are determined based on public safety and escape risks, level of institutional fit, and other case-specific information, such as results of psychological risk assessments .
Kevin Antonucci, Federal Corrections Spokesperson
“It is important to note that medium-security institutions have the same perimeter controls as maximum-security institutions (high fences, armed checkpoints, armed correctional officers equipped with adequate security equipment, etc.), and that all Possible precautions are taken to ensure public safety. »
The Correctional Service of Canada has already announced that its commissioner Anne Kelly has ordered “a new review of this offender’s case” following the outcry created by the initial decision.
Earlier this week, however, the independent body pointed out that “the law limits the information” it is authorized to disclose about an inmate’s case, although it is aware that Canadians would like to know more. about the process that led to the transfer.
Bernardo also admitted to sexually assaulting 14 other women.