Stories in the newspaper yesterday were disheartening. After reading them, I had to conclude that full-blown sexual predators are everywhere, and doing something about them will be difficult.
The first story I found was about Canadian Col. Russell Williams, an elite pilot who was commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, the largest air force base in the country. In 2005 he was photographed with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip. On February 7, 2010, he was charged with murdering a young woman who had been missing for almost a week.
That’s not all. Williams, considered a “shining bright star” in the military, has been charged with the murder of two women, sexual assault of two other women, and 82 break-ins. What did he steal? Women’s panties. An Ottawa newspaper reported that police seized more than 500 pairs from his home.
The charges have shocked the Canadian military. Retired Major Greg McQuaid wrote reports that helped Williams get promoted. McQuaid’s observation, however, is telling:
“I remember he had a very focused stare or look, and I was just reminded of that when this happened and they showed the photos of him and I said, there’s that look. I remember that look. It was like he’s looking through you at the back of your head,” McQuaid said.
To read about this incredible story, click on these links:
Canada top commander charged with murder, assault, on Philly.com.
The secret life of Colonel Russell Williams, on Macleans.ca. This story discusses psychopaths at the end.
Another story in the Sunday paper was about another sexual predator in the Catholic Church—this one from Brazil. A Polish priest, Marcin Michael Strachanowski, is accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old former altar boy, and then threatening to kill the youth if he spoke of it.
According to news reports:
Judge Alexandre Abrahao Dias said that investigators found “erotic material sent to the victim via Internet to seduce him” and that the priest also took other youths to the parish house, “which he converted into a kind of erotic dungeon where he submitted them, often with the use of handcuffs, to orgies.”
To read about this case, see:
Polish priest accused of running pedophile ”˜dungeon,’ in the Montreal Gazette.
Priest charge cites ”˜erotic dungeon,’ on Philly.com.
The Canadian colonel is being prosecuted. The priest has been arrested, and the diocese of Rio de Janeiro didn’t cover up the incident. It immediately suspended the priest and expressed regret over the alleged abuse.
These guys have been caught. Given the nature of their crimes, if proven guilty, they’ll probably go to prison for a long time.
Ten days ago, a sex offender in California, John Gardner III, was sentenced to life in prison for raping and murdering 17-year-old Chelsea King and 14-year-old Amber Dubois.
California lawmakers are now considering a bill, nicknamed Chelsea’s Law, that would mandate life sentences for some child molesters and lifetime parole for others. It’s a great idea—but it will cost a lot of money.
After the first 10 years, keeping the predators in jail would cost tens of millions of dollars, according to a California corrections department analysis. But the Legislative Analyst’s Office, which provides fiscal and policy analysis to the California Legislature, puts the cost much higher—at hundreds of millions of dollars.
Read the article here:
California bill aimed at molesters would cost millions, on Google.com.
Last week, Lovefraud reported that the Supreme Court upheld a law to keep sex offenders in jail after their sentences are served. People who commit crimes like these deserve to spend their lives in jail. But is our society willing to pay for it?
Hopeforjoy
Wini,
Watching an execution on T.V. would be too much for me personally. It’s like those people who watch ‘Faces of Death’, real deaths that were taped. It’s just too gruesome. I couldn’t even be a witness to an execution at a prison. Taking a life is ultimate and final. DNA is 99.9% acurate, but there’s always a ‘what if?’. Innocent people have been executed before there was DNA testing, what if it were someone you cared about?
Anyway, I do appreciate your point of view and respect the right of your opinion. I think I’m in the minority. That’s okay.
brian92680
Wini, I believe that there are other ways to deter predators without public executions. Most of us are frustrated with sociopathic predators, but once we go down the road of public executions, we fall into the same abyss that the sociopath does.
I think existing concepts and laws, used in different ways, can incapacitate sociopaths. Earlier, I said that there needs to be not just tougher laws, but tougher enforcement of existing laws.
GettingIt
On Punishment: My dog stole food off the table today. The moment the dog saw me, he ran (fear, knowing he’d done a Bad thing, because some of the food was still on the floor). I caught up, scolded him and confined him to his crate. 15 min later I let the dog out. You know, the first thing he did was to come near me, sit in front, bow his head and lick my hand. My dog felt REMORSE. There were no treats in my hand, I was merely ignoring it at that point. A f$*#& dog has more sense of remorse than a P – punished or not.
FYI – I love my dog and would never hurt it. I would not hurt a dog I didn’t love. Not so true with this other animal I discovered calls itself human.
ErinBrock
GettingIt:
I laughed at your post….because I had the vision of my puppy Holly doing the same thing.
I don’t even know she’s done something wrong….and when I lay my eyes on her…she narks herself off….before I see the trouble she’s found.
She’s got the bowed head and the slink and pulled back ears…..
THEN I know I need to look around.
HAHA!
Your right about animal instincts…..and sense of remorse….in regards to a Cluster B…..so right!!
I’ll take my Holly golly ANY TIME!!!!! Slinky or not!
Good post.
Ox Drover
Dear Getting it,
Your average dog has a conscience and a sense of justice, the psychopath doesn’t. Experiments have proven that dogs have a sense of justice and fairness. The psychopath doesn’t have that sense of justice or fairness.
There ARE dogs who are “psychopathic” just as there are dogs who are not (the majority!)
At least with the dogs that are psychopathic we can put them down or keep ourselvbes safe from them. Not so with the psychopaths because our “laws” grant them the same safeguards that it grants to non-psychopathic humans. It’s a shame. There are some of us though, that have learned the difference between psychopathic human-clones and real humans, so all we can do is to keep our individual selves as safe as possible by NC as much as possible.
There have always been evil humans and always will be I guess. My opinion though is tht we are here on a spiritual journey so this is not ALL of what there is here on earth. I trust that there will be more later and that real justice will prevail. So as much as I feel anger at injustice, all I can do is to fix myself, my own soul, and do what I can do, and leave the rest to God/the universe.
ErinBrock
Update on James Biela trial.
Prosecution rested yesterday. Defense only called ONE witness……and rested today!
SHOCKING! ONLY ONE WITNESS…..he was a DNA expert who got paid $1800.00 a day to be in court and testify.
Unfortunately for the defense, the prosecution DEMOLISHED their witness.
Just demolished him! Witness refused to look over at jury during cross and had the look of I’m gonna kick your ass if you keep embarrasing me to prosecuter.
He was subtly combative and refused to answer some questions.
Did a lot of tango in the courtroom…..and NOT very good!!!!
It was a shock when defense rested after this witness.
There were over 100 witness’s listed to testify and prosecution called over 50…..so everyone expected defense to put uyp a pretty good smoke screen and drag it out…..
At one point it looked like they were going to try and pin it on the father or brother….and I’m sure his 4 year old son if anyone would buy that……due to DNA matches.
Judge asked defendent JAMES BIELA this morning if he planned on testifying on his own behalf….and read him his rights and explained that prosecution could cross him…..
he said he wanted to testify, but his attornies had advised him against taking stand. Judge asked if he understood and he answered ‘I GUESS”. The judge wasn’t satisfied with this answer and said I want to make sure your clear on your rights….yadayada…..and have you had enough time with your attorneis to discuss your options and rights…..
Biela said………”yes, I guess I will not take the stand’.
I’m wondering if the evidence is so clear cut……and there is really NO defense……now the defense is setting themselves up for incompetant representation….because he’s facing death penalty.
Tomorrow is closing arguments…..and I don’t think the jury will be deliberating for long…..at all!
We will see…….
You can see the closing arguments on the internet on RenoGazetteJournal or KOLO tv tomorrow starting at 10am Pacific.
Ox Drover
Dear Erin,
Many times the defense will call NO witnesses, hoping that the state has not “proven” their case. That’s funny about the DNA “expert’s” testimony. It is kind of hard to knock down DNA evidence but I guess they figured they didn’t have much of a chance to do anything else.
I have NO doubt that APPEAL (automatic in death cases at least–and paid for by the state I imagine as well) will say the attorneys were not adequate and/or that he didn’t understand his rights “I guess…” LOL
Wonder how long the jury will be out? Three hours? Less? Life w/o parole? Death? Any bets? Wanna get up a “pool?”
ErinBrock
I’m in for $100 buck GUILTY on ALL counts.
I’d give him the DP…..but I’m not so sure this Jury will.
I guess that’s a toss up…..and 12 peeps must be in agreeance…..if the jurors were LF posters……he wouldn’t be handed the DP……I don’t think we could all agree….it’s a mix.
(no judgement, just an observation).
ANother $100 bucks that if it goes to Jury by Lunch….they will have a verdict by 5pm and trial will be wrapped by TOMORROW eve. (I guess)….. 🙂
Ox Drover
Dear ErinB,
He deserves to DIE by being kicked to death by Fat and Hairy, but it isn’t like there isn’t conclusive DNA evidence he did it…BUT the thing Is I have had to REVISE my own death penalty leanings because of the ones who were INNOCENT (really didn’t do it, that got off 10-20-35 years later by DNA proving they were INNOCENT)
So if I could fry one that “looked guilty” like the West Memphis three did 17 years ago ( I didn’t watch it too close or I would have seen then what was going on, a WITCH HUNT!) then I would have to agree to fry them all, and I just can’t do that any moe. BUT I do go for LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE fror any serious violence, rape, child molestation, drunk driving, weapons (gun, knife, paper clip) and repeat felony. Hell I am for Driving while drunk as murder if someone is killed–life!
I think you are right though, court over before supper and guilty on all counts. Do they have to do a separate trial for the sentencing?
Nolife
Hi all,
Do the prisoner not work? I know they are not easy to manage but surely they are able to work and make a living too.
We have factories where prisoners are sent to work everyday. Their salary will be contributed to the expenses of keeping them in jail. How ironic. Makes people think twice before committing a crime.
I do question the ten or hundreds of millions spent, are they transparent about their account book?