The hammer falls in Hamilton on three murder trials

In the part of this universe that we know there is great injustice, and often the good suffer, and often the wicked prosper, and one hardly knows which of those is the more annoying.-Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)

Hamiltonian's know too well the sage of this quote. Recent justice has been neither swift nor hard. Sometimes justice felt like it was administered with a whiffle bat instead of the iron "Hammer" that forged the chains and shackles to which freedom was grounded for many birds of prey in the past. Leaving the preyed upon feeling the sting of a misfired blow from a blind justice system.

This weekend four men finally felt the sting of justice as the gavel fell in three highly publicized Hamilton cases.

Rogers sentenced to life in jail

Corey Rogers -- the dangerous fugitive who tried to turn himself in a week before going on a stabbing rampage -- has been found guilty of murdering two teens and wounding two others.

The jury found Rogers, 24, guilty of first-degree murder for the death of Paul Haggerty, 19. Second-degree murder for the death of Lucas Deane, 18. Attempted murder for the stabbing of Kenny Clark. And aggravated assault for the knifing of Lee-Anthony Newell.

The first-degree murder conviction draws an automatic life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years. Justice Ramsay also handed down 12 years for the second-degree murder, as well as six years for the attempted murder and one year for the aggravated assault.

Paul Haggerty's father, says his faith in the police and the justice system was shattered in the wake of Rogers' botched surrender.

"Today, our faith has been restored a little bit."

I couldn't agree more.
origional post about the botched arrest from 5/9/07 entitled "Chief Brian Mullan Lies Again"
full story and victim impact statements

Aziga guilty verdict makes history

A Hamilton jury made legal history Saturday when it convicted an HIV-positive man on two counts of first-degree murder for deliberately infecting two Toronto women who died of AIDS-related lymphomas.

The nine men and three women jurors deliberated approximately 25 hours over three days before returning with a verdict at 5 p.m. The jury also found Johnson Aziga, 52, guilty on 10 counts of aggravated sexual assault and one of attempted aggravated sexual assault.

The daughter of S.B., who was present in court for the verdict, said she was grateful to the jury for finding that her mother’s death was a murder and not just an unfortunate public health incident .

“I thought that any person who would have common sense and who would have that evidence in front of them would find the same way that I felt — that he was guilty. How could you not connect that (sex) act with the sequence of events that led to her death.”

Aziga returns to court May 7 for sentencing and at that time, the prosecutor and Crown council intend to file victim impacts statements from family members of the dead women, along with the surviving complainants. Five of Aziga’s former sex partners are HIV positive and four have tested negative.

full story

This man inflicting these women with a slow, painful deadly disease did far worse than if he had used a gun and ended their life swiftly. Aziga deserves not only 25 years without parole, but declaring him a dangerous offender would give him possibly the rest of his natural life to find the remorse for his victims that he seemingly lacks.

Brothers admit to killing

A Hamilton man has pleaded guilty to two brutal crimes committed five months apart that ignited the city's outrage in 2006.

Thomas Riordan, 19, yesterday admitted in court he murdered Michael Walsh, 22, when he burst into a tiny room in the American House Tavern in Waterdown in October 2006 and fired two rifle bullets into Walsh as he lay helpless on his bed.

Riordan also pleaded guilty to trying to kill Travis Bailey, 22, in early May that year by pumping a shotgun blast into Bailey's face, blowing out his teeth, shattering his jaw and leaving him brain damaged, paralyzed on his left side and blind in one eye.

Standing next to his younger brother in the prisoner's box, Shane Riordan, 21, pleaded guilty yesterday to manslaughter for guarding the kicked-in door while his brother shot the young father of one. Walsh was also stabbed in the stomach and clubbed in the head with a heavy candlestick by two other people.

Walsh's sister,

"Our society looks to police and the courts for some kind of justice, but no matter what we feel, it will never be enough."

full story

Later,
Kenaz

Re: 'Families enraged at police error' (Column, March 1)

I found this letter to the editor in Saturdays edition of the Spectator. It points out the many outrages mistakes the Hamilton Police have made recently. I've included links to my posts and others on the various subjects.

Let me see if I understand this.

A man police had identified as the most dangerous, most wanted man in the city for the month of January(Corey Rogers) allegedly calls 911 and offers himself to be picked up by police. He is told he should make his own way to the station. He never shows up and, less than two weeks later, is accused of murdering two teens. He's then picked up at his home by police, who pat themselves on the back, according to Deputy Chief Ken Leendertse,(backed up by Chief Mullan) for "good police work." No wonder the victim's grandfather accuses the police of murdering his grandson.

It's mind-boggling and unnerving.

What does it take to spur the police into action? Should the suspect on the phone have also provided a detailed description that he was wanted on charges for robbing and beating a man and leaving him a quadriplegic or for allegedly knocking a man unconscious in a bar fight?

This is the same police service that just recently bungled internal sexual harassment allegations against a senior officer, only to have the charges thrown out because they were filed eight days too late.

This is the same police service currently investigating another group of officers for allegedly drinking while on duty.

(*update of this story since this letter was posted)
***A Hamilton police detective, who was facing seven charges under the Police Services Act, has retired. The revelation came Friday, as a police hearing was to take place in regards to the allegations facing 30 year veteran Larry Larson.

Instead, a tribunal has dropped all seven charges including allegations of drinking on duty, ignoring a robbery call and lying to supervisors, since it no longer has jurisdiction over Larson.

Two other officers have pleaded guilty to lesser misconduct charges, and have had other chargs dropped, in connection with the same incident last April. Constable Jennifer Granatier has been fined three days pay for drinking on duty. Constable Charlene Moses, who pleaded guilty to going to the same home while on duty was fined two days pay.***

Is this supposed to inspire confidence in the delivery and competency of police services in Hamilton? Perhaps it's time for change. Perhaps police services board chair Bernie Morelli should either step down or start asking real questions of the police service under his charge. Hamilton residents expect a higher standard, not a police service apparently rife with incompetence and negligence.

Later,
Kenaz