Hamilton's Dumbest Criminals

As the old tv show lamented "These stories are ripped from the back pages of the newspaper". To bring it up to date the crime section of the online version of the  local paper. These are,

Heist at a lemonade stand. Thieves cart off 10-year-old's cooler. ‘Disgusting,' mom fumes. While 10-year-old Madison Lord was cleaning out the stainless steel cooler she uses for her lemonade stand, she ran out of soap. The cooler had been sitting idle for a week, and mould had started to grow while she was at summer camp. She turned her back, leaving her post for only 15 or 20 seconds. When she returned, the cooler was gone. Stolen. Thrown into the flatbed of a silver Dodge Ram, a new one, with a tandem trailer attached full of scrap metal. Madison ran after the thieves, yelling at them as her heart broke.
“She's devastated,” said her mom, Stephanie Smith.
“I would just love to know who did it,” she added.

I agree my message to these a**holes,

Oh and I hope you have some extra private medical insurance and a good doctor, you might need it, buddy.

From creeps to a kid in love with his bunny, and the residences who wish he could just have bought a card.

There’s no love lost between local residents and a big, bold declaration spanning the Jolley Cut.
“Whoever wrote it should be chastised,” John Marshall said of the large “I love u Bunny (sic)” graffiti scrawled in white paint across the side of the roadway.
“They should really put a stop to this, because it’s starting to piss me off.”
Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr said he wasn’t aware of the message before The Spectator posted a photo of it on thespec.com Monday. Since then, his office has gotten at least two complaints about it. “I’d like to find who’s in love with Bunny, because they’d be doing the cleaning,” he said.
Farr, who’s calling for a cleanup, said he would have found the statement much more heartwarming “if it had been in banner form.”
“Hopefully Bunny has seen the message … and now we can delete the message,” he said. I think if Bunny has any dignity left, the only 'cotton' lover boy will be chasing will be a box of Cottonelle.

And from the Annals of the Hall of Shame I give you these two half wits,

Nearly naked biker charged

It was speed and the fact he wasn’t wearing a helmet that first caught the attention of a Hamilton police officer patrolling Upper Sherman Avenue. But on second look, the officer noticed the 40-year-old motorcycle driver was missing more than his helmet — he was wearing only a T-shirt.
“He had no pants, no underwear,” said Acting Staff Sergeant David Hennick.
The patrolling officer was travelling northbound on Upper Sherman near Mohawk Road 4 a.m. Sunday, when the speeding motorcycle passed him going southbound.
The motorcycle driver then lost control of his bike, only to get back up and try to flee on his bike again, Hennick said.
At one point the man tried to flee on foot, “there was a brief struggle,” and then the man was arrested, he said.
The 40-year-old Hamilton man is facing charges including dangerous driving and flight from police.
Alcohol was a factor. He blew in the “warm range,” which is between 0.5 and 0.8, and received a three day licence suspension.

Finally I don't think this dumbass could even say "peace de la resistance" so I will refer him as another "peace-o-shite" going cheaper than than BJ on Barton.

For pete's sake, say no to drugs!
Or you will end up like the Toronto loser whom Hamilton cops charged with theft and drug charges after a strange series of events at the McMaster University GO TRANSIT complex. Police say a GO bus driver had left his bus for a washroom break yesterday afternoon. When the driver returned, he found the bus' doors had been pried open and the cash box was missing. Several students pointed the finger of blame at a man sitting in nearby bus shelter. McMaster Security approached the 22 year-old, who admitted the theft. While making the arrest, officers noticed a bag next to the man who denied it was his. A search of the bag turned up a quantify of crystal meth, ecstasy and a suspected date-rape drug. Also in the bag (dum-de-dum-really dum) ... the Toronto man's I-D. Doh!

Later,
Kenaz

Irish eyes shine again for Eugene Kelly

"You don't hit somebody when they're down."-Eugene Kelly

He was kicked, stomped and pepper sprayed by three Hamilton pieces of trash who thought they could get away with it. Eugene Kelly got up, heeled himself and fought back in court and this week he got the vindication he deserved. Kelly, 47 was outside the courthouse where two Hamilton youths were convicted of participating in a mob attack on him on Nov. 12, 2006.

Ontario Court Justice Bernd Zabel found both males, who were 17 at the time, guilty of aggravated assault. He convicted one of them of assault with a weapon and administering a noxious substance (pepper spray). The pair, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, will be sentenced May 2. A third accused, Bronson Vinerskis, who was 18 years old, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in adult court and will be sentenced on April 9.

Kelly, a married father of two grown daughters, has no memory of being stomped and repeatedly kicked in the head. He learned only weeks later, after awakening from heavy sedation and semi-consciousness, that doctors in the emergency room observed a distinct boot impression on the side of his bleeding face.

Witnesses said Kelly was pepper-sprayed by one youth and minutes later knocked to the pavement outside the Pizza Pizza at Fiesta Mall in Stoney Creek. He was unconscious as soon as his head hit the ground. A group of teenage boys surrounded his defenceless body and administered a flurry of kicks to his upper body and head.

The lead singer in a Celtic rock band called Crooked Jack, Kelly was returning home from playing a gig at the Corktown Pub. He stopped into the pizza shop sometime after 2 a.m. for something to eat. He admonished a teenager at the counter for failing to say thank you to the server. A friend of the youth took offence and challenged the older man to meet them outside.

Kelly suffered closed-head injuries and permanent memory loss, along with chronic impairment of his equilibrium. He has recently returned to work at Dofasco, but in a limited capacity. The steelworker has difficulty maintaining his balance and now walks with a cane.

"It's been just devastating," Kelly said, referring to the struggle he and his family faced to return to their normal lives. What hurts most is not having the dexterity to play guitar or the strength to stand for long and perform onstage. "It's not there yet. I tried a couple of times, but it's just not there yet."

I hope the justice system finally says enough is enough and hands out adult sentences to a bunch of coward "youth offenders" who committed adult crimes.

Later,
Kenaz

Hamiltonian's rally in support of Dieppe Vets

Sickened by the vandalizing of the Dieppe monument, Hamiltonians and city officials showed their pride and thanks for the local veterans promising to repair the lakefront memorial.

Not only will the 10-inch bronze crown-and-bugle patch vandals ripped from the cairn's north face sometime in the past week or two be replaced. As well, city officials gave a gift to the veterans in the form of a pledge to pave an adjacent parking lot and repair cracks that have appeared in the concrete wall and foundation of the four-year-old, $420,000 tribute to the sacrifices of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.

I hope the degenerates who vandalized and thus spit on so many heros of Dieppe are happy for now. Hopefully when they are caught justice will be served, harshly and coldly. A proper tribute to that fateful day in 1942.

A memorial ceremony will be held Sunday marking the 65th anniversary of the battle.

Later,
Kenaz

Panhandling pariahs

An incident on Wednesday in Vancouver proves that cops need to start getting tough on these "bums" that pray on our forgiveness. The incident in question involves the "cowardly" attack on a 79-year-old man.

Vancouver police said a panhandler robbed and assaulted the 79-year-old man inside a church. As he comes out, the senior more than generously $5 to the panhandler. Quite a hit to the average pensioner's wallet. The "scum" is not happy with that and that's when he grabs the seniors wallet, throws him on the ground and goes to get the wallet. He takes some quantity of money out of it and takes off.

Canadians need to stop doling out their hard earned cash for panhandlers, addicts, and drunks to continue their lifestyle and feed their habits.

Yes, government cuts have left fewer social programs to deal with this issue, but that doesn't excuse the increasing numbers; especially those under 25 years of age; because it is an easy lifestyle if you don't mind a few creature discomforts.
Who's fault is that?

There is no question that the government is to blame for much of the problem by cutting social programs over the years. But that does not change the fact that there ARE plenty of temp jobs out there and there ARE alternatives for many. And those that are not capable of holding a job or changing their lifestyle need to be in a care situation somewhere off the street.

This is a proverbial "500lbs. gorilla on our backs" that needs to be dealt with and judging by the number of people who flood the call in shows and letters to the editor who express how fed up with this crap they are, tough measures are long overdue. Hard working, tax paying citizens DO NOT deserve to have to deal with this every time they walk down the street.

As the bible states "give them a fish, feed them for a day, teach them how to fish, feed them for life. Giving them ANYTHING will not help!

Tough measures are the only solution, if they won't use the services we provide to clean themselves up and get meaningful employment, then arrest them for vagrancy, harassment, and force them into treatment, before it leads to more serious crimes.

I DO NOT give money to panhandlers, EVER. Why enable their poor choices and drug addiction. If you wish to give money to their cause, charities like the Salvation Army and the good Shepherd are good choices.


Later,
Kenaz

Mistake righted offers dignity to our dead soldiers

Canadian soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan will finally be treated with the same dignity as fallen RCMP officers when it comes to their funerals.

The Defence Department quietly tucked their tales between their collective legs and admitted their mistakes by more than doubling the burial money given to the families of soldiers killed in the line of duty, bringing the military in line with support the Mounties offer members.

The new rate of $12,700 came into effect amid a torrent of disbelief over unpaid funeral expenses. Better still, the money will be available to all service members killed since Canada began its involvement in Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001.

The old rate of $4,675 had been the same for almost a decade and was no where near enough the $8,500 the average funeral costs today. Many financially strapped families
of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and elsewhere were forced to borrow to make up the difference.

One of those families where the parents of fallen soldier, Corporal Matthew Dinning, who came forward at a news conference on Parliament Hill to outline how they had asked for reimbursement twice in the year since their son had been killed only to receive the brush-off by Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor.

The new benefits package also pays for items not previously covered, such as obituary notices, flowers and receptions following the service. Comfort to the families of fifty-seven Canadian soldiers who have been killed in Afghanistan and a handful of others have died in training accidents.

Even if O'Conner won't show he has class and speak to these families and make amends at least Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier showed what kind of man he is when he phoned the Dinning family to apologize for not dealing with their concerns sooner.

Finally justice served even if it took embarrassing the Conservative Government and exposing just how deplorable they are.

Peace, to all those who have sacrificed.
Kenaz

Four 'Speed Freaks' pay for their thrill

Sherman Ave North has been as long as I can remember one of Hamilton's hot spots for disillusioned teens and young adults looking for the adrenalin rush of a car going fast. The traffic lights at Sherman and Barton act as their Christmas tree. The perfect quarter mile stretch of black top between the corner and the rail tracks near Biggar beckon them to raise hell. The light hits green and the neighbourhood is summoned to the sound of a poorly modified six cylinder car tearing down the street towards the drivers imaginary checkered flag.

This wasn't the scene description of some clone of one of those 'Drift Racing' movies, it is the disturbing reality that is plaguing our streets. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon, perfect for relaxing and getting ready for another busy work week. But not for four people who are in hospital after their vehicle struck a hydro pole on Sherman Avenue North at Biggar Avenue.

Around 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon I, like everyone else wondered why their hydro suddenly went out. Then the blaring of numerous ambulances, fire and police vehicles told us something was serious. Of course the nosey had their opinions and observances, but I'm the type who subscribes to the mind your own business and wait for the truth to unfold theory.

The truth came out today, police say a Toyota Corolla was speeding when it lost control, skidded across the road, sheared off a hydro poll before coming to rest on its roof. The driver suffered life threatening injuries, 2 others received major back injuries while the 4th man is said to have minor injuries. Alcohol appears to have been a factor, according to investigators.

The need to show off ones 'Machismo' has been around since the invention of the automobile and not much has been done since to curb the deadly tide of speed related accidents. Unfortunately, the want-to-be 'Kings' are no longer taking their game to the back dirt roads, they are endangering everyone sharing the main streets they choose as their victory road.

As a side note, I once heard of a cop in I think Los Angelas, I could be wrong. Anyway, he was an officer in charge of street crimes, and part of his duty was to try to stop the kids from tearing it up on the streets. Sick of busting the same guys sometimes nightly for 'speeding' as their was no 'street racing law', and then eventually watching the tickets going unpaid, this cop decided to get angry. But not in a forceful way, he decided to appeal to their need to show off.

With the approval of his superior's and the help of a few good cops, he took an older squad car and supped up the engine with parts confiscated in earlier busts. All on his own time, the super cop transformed the plain black and white into 'Super Fuzz'. While in his new car on patrol, he would then as usual stop a kid for racing. Instead of the standard spiel and a ticket, he would offer the opportunity of a life time. Bring it or sing it.

The deal was, bring your car to the local drag strip on the next Saturday, and race the cop in his squad car. The prize, the ticket gets ripped up and all the bragging rights that goes with silencing a cop. The catch was, the car had a nice 360 installed and the cop had some pretty decent drag racing stills. The results, the cop rarely lost and many of the kids started slowing down as they got to know the consequences of messing with this lightening rod.

I'm not saying this approach will work in Hamilton, as death doesn't seem to scare these wasted youth, but it's something better than nothing.

Later,
Kenaz

Condolences for the 33 destined ones at Virginia Tech

Condolences to the friends and family of Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, the Nova Scotian French teacher who's life was cut way to short by senseless violence. Couture-Nowak was one of the 33 innocent souls who died on the campus of Virginia Tech on Monday, gunned down by a desperately woeful soul, Cho Seung Hui, who later took the cowards way out of life and killed himself.

I wish to also condemn all the "faceless" hate mongers who used the anonymity of inter net chat groups to condemn an innocent man minutes after this tragedy occurred. Instead of waiting for the facts to unfold, these cyber terrorists decided to target a man, who only crime was a similar name and similar heritage. In turn he was barraged by death threats, racial slurs and demoralized. When the real "devil" revealed himself, it was too late, the damage was done. Two crimes where committed, first the loss of 33 innocent people, then the loss of a mans dignity for no reason.

This kind of inter net terrorism will only stop when the owners of these chat type sights and blog sights put measures in place that bans anyone who spreads hateful messages. Stocking and threats on the web is no different than doing the acts in person, when will law makers get in step with the times.

Lastly, I find it appalling that Canadian and U.S media outlets decided to play the sickening tape of a ranting, delusional Cho Seung Hui. His so called "manifesto" was nothing more than pure fiction from a sick mind.

Later,
Kenaz

Hamilton landlord plays the victim card

Anthony Di Cenzo, a Hamilton landlord, portraying himself as a totally innocent patsy in his role in a sophisticated criminal operation after a massive marijuana grow operation was discovered in his east end apartments is totally unbelievable.

On Wednesday, Hamilton police found 11,000 plants worth about $11 million in 48 units in three high-rise apartment buildings owned by Di Cenzo Management Inc., one of the Steel City's biggest residential landlords.

This was the biggest story to come out of this troublesome apartment complex, but not the first. A stabbing and a shooting had brought unwanted attention to residences in the area before.

Councillor Chad Collins shed light on the history on the buildings when he said "they have been problem spots for years and suggested the landlord should be more vigilant in screening tenants." Mr. Di Cenzo, immediately took a familiar posture amongst area landlords who have been caught with their pants down, and accused Mr. Collins of "pandering to the media".

If Mr. Di Cenzo feels he's being unfairly villanized and made part of a witch hunt by the media than he needs to do his own exorcism. Find a media outlet he feels comfortable with and set the media straight and quell the fire of the citizens. If as he says, his apartments where safe for his tenants and he had never heard of any complaints of illegal activity, he has nothing to worry about.

I have strong reservations about Mr. Di Cenzo's pleas of innocence. The smell of pot is unmistakable even for a novice, and on this scale the stench of his buildings inside or out would have been horrible. Plus, Di Cenzo states that he never saw any suspicious activity on the hydro bills or any signs of tampering. That ones tough to swallow if you saw the pictures of the re-wiring that went on.

Being fair to Mr. Di Cenzo, yes many of the tenants where probably scared to come forth to complain, in fear of retribution, but I'm sure many did, what happened to those complaints? More absurd, Di Cenzo states that he saw no commonality amongst the 48 individuals who rented the apartments, but yet the cops where able to connect the dots and go from apartment to apartment. Di Cenzo says he runs credit checks on each renter, maybe he should try a police background check instead.

This drug bust was an accident waiting to happen and it's up to Mr. Di Cenzo to come up with a better excuse than the deplorably it wasn't my fault stance.

Later,
Kenaz

Compassion for Matthew Daly`s Grandparents

This is a letter to the forum section from today`s Hamilton Spectator written by the grandparents of slain teenager Matthew Daly. It is re-posted in its entirety and without edit and without prejudice.

Our grandson's killers got off lightly
By Fred and Eileen Bergman, Burlington

Matthew Daly was our grandson. He was an outstanding young man, loved by all who knew him. He had a great future ahead of him.

On May 19, 2001, he was ambushed and beaten to death by a gang of six to eight men armed with clubs and bats. You, the public, have read the details over the years. All five individuals charged, plus three others, allegedly were members or affiliates of a Hamilton gang, the Oriental, or Original, Blood Brothers. The four who attended the private party were recognized by their clothing and were asked to leave by the hostess and, later at her request, by some of the male partygoers.

Legal proceedings began shortly after the October 2001 arrests and continued for almost five years until the trial began. Over this period, our family had to listen to the details of Matthew's horrible death dozens of times. It was emotionally draining. The victim seemed to be forgotten during all the tactics, manoeuvres and grandstanding employed by some of the defence lawyers. Most of them showed little or no empathy for the victim but were totally absorbed in beating the system and in obtaining lenient sentences. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is clearly there only to protect the accused, not the victim.

The action of one juror in hugging a defence lawyer in front of our family, after the client received a lenient sentence, was disgusting and reprehensible. Some lawyers need to learn there are only losers in such trials, and that grandstanding is deplorable.

Ten defence lawyers were in court almost every day court was in session, over almost five years. Most of the defence lawyers used everything they had to delay and extend court proceedings with useless rhetoric and vitriol, a lot of it aimed at law enforcement witnesses. It would last for days without accomplishing anything, except run up the lawyers' fees. We are all paying these fees through legal aid.

The two-for-one law -- two days counted for every day served before sentencing -- for those convicted of manslaughter after being charged with murder, is ludicrous. It must be changed. Matthew's killers received almost minimum sentences; their jail times range from a minimum of time served before sentencing to a maximum of another 7 1/2 years. One of those convicted was two months younger than 18 years old at the time of the attack; he can only serve a total of 7 1/2 years before release.

A murder conviction is supposed to be a life sentence. Is this justice, or a slap on the wrist? We all must get involved in repairing a broken system.

We must acknowledge the tremendous effort by Halton and Hamilton police, led by then-Sergeant Martin Power, and the Halton Crown's office, led by Brian O'Marra, in bringing the killers to justice. The first thing some defence lawyers do is to put the police on trial with vitriol, disrespect and unending questioning. They don't play fair.

We have great admiration and respect for the manner in which the police and the Crown conducted themselves with dignity when facing unfair, malicious attacks by the defence. We sincerely thank them for their efforts.

Peace,
Kenaz

Young offenders should be treated like adults

The Conservative government plans to introduce a bill as early as next month to treat young offenders more harshly, including an expected provision to make it automatic that violent and repeat offenders over age 13 receive adult sentences.

This is one promise contained in the Conservative election platform, which promises "to hold young lawbreakers accountable to their victims and the community." That they can ill afford to break. It is time for jail sentences for youths to reflect the growing severity of the crimes.

One change would be to make it automatic for youths aged 14 and over who are repeat or violent offenders to receive heavier adult sentences, a provision that would remove the discretionary powers of a judge to decide on a case-by-case basis. As it stands, it is presumed that serious crimes will merit adult punishment, but it is not mandatory. This discretion was glaringly problematic in the Matthew Daly case, one that lead to one of his killers to walk free after timed served.

The government's plan as expected will run into legal trouble, there is already a challenge, slated to be heard in the Supreme Court of Canada next fall, to the current, lenient law. The case involves a 17-year-old youth who beat another teen at a Hamilton, Ont., shopping mall. The victim eventually died from his injuries.

The Ontario Court of Appeal decided last year that youths in trouble with the law should be treated as children not adults. A three-judge panel in Ontario declared that presuming youths will be punished as adults violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that it should be up to prosecutors to present a convincing case on why youths should be punished as adults, rather than the other way around.

The government also plans to add a provision to the act instructing judges to take "deterrence and denunciation" into account when sentencing youths. The principle, which already exists in the Criminal Code for adults, means imposing longer sentences to send a message to the public.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act came into force almost four years ago replacing the Young Offenders Act which was a joke. This act saw a huge amount of kids walk in the front door of our jails and be turned free even before the paperwork was signed. Or not be charged with crimes such as break and enter or third degree assault because the cops knew they couldn't get a conviction because of a justice system caught in the past when kids actually feared punishment. Now it's all they know, and "wear" it like a badge of honour.

Rehabilitation rather than punishment, only works if the convicted is truly ready to repent for his crimes and wants to return to society. For the other 60% (police say that the new focus has caused a 40% decrease in the number of youths serving time in jail) the proposed bill will see them lose their rights the same way they took from their victim.

Of course the Liberals plan to halt the bill at all costs, they fell that,

"Harsh treatment doesn't work," said Liberal justice minister, Marlene Jennings, who added that she expected that the Conservative proposals would violate the Charter of Rights guarantee that punishment must be proportionate to the crime.

She said she is particularly "horrified" at the prospect of eliminating the discretion of judges to pass sentences as they see fit, on a case-by-case basis.

Inconsistency amongst judges is why the justice is broke and needs to be fixed. I agree with this bill and even some new considerations that have been leaked.

The government is considering going even further for 16- and 17-year-olds. A leaked memo that proposes to give the Crown discretion to use the adult justice system, not just sentencing, for youths aged 16 and 17 who are charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter or aggravated sexual assault. The difference is that in the youth justice system, their names are protected from publication and they do not carry a criminal record into adulthood.

Hopefully this bill of hope doesn't see the shredder like many other bills that have attempted to remedy of sick justice system.

Later,
Kenaz

Justice slaps the Daly family in the face

Ontario Superior Justice Fletcher Dawson gave Stephen Papadopoulos an extra day in jail on top of the five years and three months he has spent in custody awaiting his trial for his part in the beating death of Matthew Daly in 2001.

A jury had earlier convicted him of manslaughter and the judge concluded he had driven some of the killers to the scene, but hadn't participated in the fatal attack. The jury had also convicted Sam Nop, 24, and Neil (Fadil) Mujku, 23, of second-degree murder. To reach this verdict, the jurors had to believe they were among the five men who punched, kicked and clubbed Daly to death.

Mujku will have to serve at least 12 years and Nop 13 years before they can apply for parole. With credit for pretrial custody, Mujku could apply for parole as early as Oct. 10, 2013, and Nop a year later. Another man convicted of second- degree murder, Vuthy Chak, 23, will have to serve seven years before he can apply for parole on Oct. 10, 2008.

The sentences are a slap in the face to Daly's parents who have waited five long years to see the cowards who snuffed out their bright light of a son in a fashion that is totally unforgivable.

Mr. Daly called the justice system "broken" but stopped short of blaming the judge for the lenient sentence. I can't be so forth giving to Justice Dawson.

A judge acts as the vessel that holds the elixir we call justice. Justice is meant to anoint those who are hurt by crime. This can't be done if the vessel has cracked and the limited supply of liquid healing has flowed out.

In other words it is a judges civic duty to force law makers into changing laws that benefit those who commit crimes of such grievous nature as this one. It's not right for judges to take the easy way out and hide behind our archaic laws. They must be the catalysis that stems the liberal flow of small minded justice.

Those who are found guilty of crime need to be punished in a fashion that suites the crime and detours them from committing that crime ever again. Coddling and naturing those who only know violence gives criminals a legal carte-blanche snub of society. Instead of feeling remorse, criminals laugh in the face of honest, law abiding people like the Daly family.

Papadopoulos walked out of the Maplehurst detention centre in Milton and spent the evening with his family in Hamilton. The Daly family spent the night asking "why?". "Why not two years for every year of his (Matthew's) life that they took away?" That was a sobering cry to the justice system from Matthew Daly Sr. Will his cry be enough to seal the cracks?

Or will lawyers like Heather McArthur, Papadopoulos' lawyer; who said her client "was absolutely thrilled" with the sentence and that he was looking forward to reuniting with his family and getting on with his life; drown out the cry with their screech of hypocrisy.

Respect for Papadopoulos will never be indulged upon him in Hamilton. Only remorse. He caused the Daly family a lot of pain and the apology he gave was that of a drowning man. Only his maker can offer him the forgiveness he seeks, he better start praying now, only god knows when his number is up.

Later,
Kenaz

Praise for the Matthew Daly Jury

After a full week of deliberations, the jury did the only thing they could when they sentenced four men in connection with the May 2001 murder of Burlington teenager Matthew Daly.

The men and women of this jury should be praised for their deliberate and careful attention to detail. They asked for clarification from the judge concerning the definition of "first degree murder" and "second degree murder". What they where told from all I understand of law, basically it boils down to one factor. Did the accused plan to murder Matthew?

Early on in this case like many, I thought fair justice was only a murder conviction for all involved and nothing else. As the case unfolded in became clear that these "men" did not start off the tragic evening with the intent to murder. As the events unfolded it became clear that blind hate took hold and steered these men down the path that led to the untimely death of a bright star.

It is now up to the judge to send a message to Sam Nop, Vuthy Chak and Fadil "Neil" Mujku. Who have been found guilty of second degree murder. Stephen Papadopoulos has been found guilty of manslaughter. A message that tells the country that the justice system has had enough of senseless hate and they are ready to start making those who commit these type of crimes pay to the fullest the criminal code allows.

Chak was a young offender at the time of the murder and will be eligible for parole in less than two years. A judge will set parole eligibility for Nop and Mujku on January 29th, the same day Papadopoulos' manslaughter sentence will be finalized.

A fifth man, whose identity is protected under a strict publication ban and who is also charged with first degree murder, will go on trial next year in the case.

Background Story

Four or five blows to the head and neck was the cause of death of Matthew Daly. He died in hospital about 12 hours after he was ambushed and attacked at about 3 a.m., May 19, 2001, while walking home with his girlfriend, Erin Keller, from a Nelson High School graduation party in Burlington.

The assailants were angry because Daly and his buddies had ejected a group of Hamilton men from the party less than two hours earlier. They came back to the party armed with bats and clubs, clubbed, kicked and punched Daly until he was no longer moving.

At this point, four of the attackers ran away but Nop stayed behind and delivered four or five more blows to the victim's head.

Later,
Kenaz

He was only protecting his family

And what did he get for it? Called a thug, vigilante by his peers and denied justice by the ones sworn to serve and protect.

I'm sorry but I call Don Shaxon a hero for what he did to a punk he found cowering in his Burlington basement. Alerted by the family cocker spaniel he found the teen, drunk to the gills, claiming he mistook the house on the quiet street as a party house that he tried to stumble to.

After punching and apprehending the 16-year-old he took for an intruder, Shaxon was accused by some bleeding heart teen advocates as going to far in defending his family and property. To make matters worse the police decided to not charge the kid. The only solace comes in the fact that the police did not charge him for the beating he gave the youth.

I applaud Mr. Shaxon for what he did, he did what every Canadian would have done, even those who said "oh he should have just called the cops". Sure and hope the punk doesn't kill you in the meantime.

The criminal code allows a person to use reasonable force to subdue a person illegally found on their property. The question was whether Mr. Shaxon crossed that line. The answer was obviously no, the kid was not seriously hurt, a bit bruised and a lot sore once he sobered up.

I have one thing to say to his critics, I hope you all feel so comfortable in your gated communities with your blinders on that you will never feel the sense of violation that this man felt and before you call someone a "thug" use your brain. These little scourge of society need to know who's boss and if the justice system allows room for people to act on their own accord then go for it.

Spectator link to the story

Later,
Kenaz

Letter hits my message home

In a previous post I depicted in the form of a cartoon my frustration with the 'garbage' turning our beautiful streets into a gang hangout, unsafe for the good kids and hard working stiffs to enjoy.



Today I found this well written letter to the editor of the "Spectator". This gentlemen voices the exact same opinion and I would like to share it.

Re: 'Youth gang suspected in assault on musician' (Nov. 14)

I find it frustrating that again we are not being informed of trouble spots in areas of the city, areas where we might be in danger of attacks from mobs of bullies.

Where is the police presence over this upswing they say has occurred, and where are the parents who should have a leash on these hoods?

Is it any wonder a neighborhood will call out for vigilante justice because we don't want to see our good citizens earmarked for a pounding by youths who fear no one? Individually, they are mouthy, but as a group they are fearless.

Maybe we should go the way some other countries have with this problem -- bring back curfews and ban gatherings of no more than three people, lest you are confronted by a police presence.

Women who take back the night are right in their message.

Maybe we as citizens should take back our neighbourhoods, from James North to Stoney Creek to the Mountain. If the police can't do it, we should.

In the update of this story on Friday the three 'kids' charged with the beating appeared in front of the judge sobbing. I hope this judge throws the entire library of law books at these morons especially the 18 year old leader.

Enough is enough, I take the bus to work right past where the attack occurred, I watch the kids get off the bus at the school mentioned, wearing the gang attire d'jour. My steel toed boots are covered in layers of grease and grime. They look to cover there's in blood. I wear blue and red flannel as a symbol of hard work. They wear their 'colours' as symbol of callous pride.

I pray for Eugene Kelly to awake and once again fill the clubs with his sweet Irish melodies and I pray for these kids will wake up and re-join the human race.

Later,
Kenaz

The Route Canada Saga

The Route Canada saga reads like a trashy crime novel. The main character's the Fingold brothers a couple of devious business men who manage to buy a government owned trucking company in a suspicious deal. Corruption is the rule of the empire for 20 months until the kings of deceit are finally toppled. In the end thousands of employees face a mountain of red tape as they try to save their pensions and find new work. My father was one those victims who managed to find work with another trucking company and eventually received all of his pension money, others where not so lucky. Click on the scans to read the details.

From The Hamilton Spectator 1991























Later,
Kenaz

Hamilton's sordid characters

From The Hamilton Spectator Tuesday March 1991

Among the people charged so far-police are still seeking more more suspect-are a wide variety of individuals ranging from a horse farmer to a professional wrestler to a self-professed minister. See scan of the clipping for more of this sordid tale of crime, grime and grit from Hamiltons near past. This story has a personal note, a the time of his arrest I was working at Sam's Place and I remember well the story. Sam got his buddy and part time bouncer to dummy up so he ended up with a light sentence of a few weekends in jail.

Nine months for years of sadness

Nine months is the punishment for the desecration and toppling of more than 230 gravestones at historic Hamilton Cemetery in June. This is ridiculous and a slap in the face too the families who's memories of their departed loved ones have been besmirched.

A frustrated Ontario Court Justice Norman Bennett echoed popular opinion when he said the crime "verged on being considered evil." But added, yesterday that he was "shackled" by the Youth Criminal Justice Act in how severely he could sentence the first of five teenagers to face trial for the vandalism totaling more than $36,000. Still, the youth was told he must pay the cemetery, operated by the city, $36,000, and he was sentenced to nine months in custody.

The teenager was 17 years old the night of the York Boulevard cemetery rampage and cannot be named because the Youth Offender act protects scum who are disrespectful to a society that gives them everything, in return, asks nothing of them. Instead of being part of society these self professed misfits, think its "something to do" to go out and perform these malicious and destructive acts.

I have to love defense lawyer Stephen De Wetter; who is probably being payed from public coffers; when he argued it was a despicable act but the youth had been caught up in the devil's night mindset of June 6, 2006, a date that matches the 666 that is the biblical sign of the beast.

Judge Bennett must have been choking back the giggles at such a lame defense, as he said it was "absolutely shocking" that the youths had the "audacity" to topple gravestones and bring "sad moments" to the lives of those with loved ones in the cemetery.

Some of the headstones were destroyed forever because the misfits also moved the lids of vaults to get at coffins. The vandalism was already beyond anyone's comprehension but the youths were not content and had then gone across York Boulevard and tried to break into Dundurn Castle, but where scared off by a security guard.

"You are a youth absolutely out of control ... This community has to be protected somehow." Was the last tough words from the judge, but in the end his actions failed the community that he protects.

The youth has already been in custody for three months and will be credited for four and one-half months served while completing his sentence in the Peninsula Youth Centre and in a group home. The judge also placed him on 12 months probation with various provisions, including anger management.

I hope the judges who handle the remaining cases show more incentive and find ways to make these degenerates pay for their crime. In many jurisdictions in other civilized countries these punks would be looking at a good year in tough youth jail.

Later,
Kenaz

Justice for Drew

A mother sits by her son's hospital bedside day in and day out waiting for her bubbly, active boy to respond to her. To look her in the eyes. To smile.

For three weeks, as her young son has clung to life, Lee has wondered how an ordinary walk home from a concert a few blocks from their home could have become such a nightmare.

Police, so far, have no answers. Why?

Just a block and a half from his home, 13-year-old Drew was pulled into a Main Street East parking lot behind the Bible Centred Ministries building and beaten into unconsciousness. Lee is left wondering if her son will be able to hug her again. To play sports again. To be a kid again. She dreams of it, but has a hard time believing it is even a remote possibility.

Looking exhausted and emotionally drained, this courageous mother made a desperate plea through the media for information about her son's attacker or about the attack itself.

Detective Constable Daryl Reid is leading the investigation and believes there is valuable information being withheld. The parking lot, to the north of Main Street East just east of Proctor Boulevard, is a highly visible lot.

Lee said Drew had left the house around 7 p.m. Aug. 5 to attend a concert in Gage Park with his friends. His curfew was 9:30 p.m. and he knew he was expected to abide by it. He never made it home.

Drew had separated from his friends after they had walked west along Maplewood Avenue to Sherman Avenue South. Drew continued the walk home west along Main Street East. It was approximately 9:50 p.m. when Drew wandered by a parking lot at 685 Main St. E.

A man came out of the shadows and grabbed the boy and knocked him to the ground. He began his merciless attack, kicking and stomping on the boy's head. An elderly woman witnessed the attack from a window above the parking lot and screamed at the unknown man to stop. The man paused and took a few steps away then continued to beat the young boy. The woman continued to scream and the man ran off, leaving the boy lying motionless in the parking lot.

After two and a half weeks in a drug-induced coma, Drew was moved out of intensive care Thursday, but remains in hospital in serious condition. His mother says even if he is able to receive rehabilitation, his life will never be the same.

He may never play with his friends again and the world may never know this kids potential.

The suspect as a male, black, 16-20 years old, 5-foot-5, 130 to 140 pounds, wearing long pants.

This kind of garbage makes me sick to my stomach and I'm sorry if I sound like a broken record, but the Hamilton Police once again have nothing to say. I know, cowards don't read, but I plead with the scum who did this to turn himself in and take his punishment like a man.

I know every faith preaches and common sense dictates vigilance and not vigilantism, but some circumstances make you so mad as to only wish the worse. For this satan bastard, I wish just that.

UPDATE:
July 14, 2009

The family of Drew Lee, a boy brutally stomped on in an unprovoked attack while walking home, is outraged his attacker was given three years in prison for causing Drew permanent brain damage.Alexander Carloni, 21, was sentenced this morning in a Hamilton courtroom filled with tears from both Lee and Carloni’s families. Carloni was given two-for-one credit for the two and a half years he spent in custody awaiting trial, so that his sentence is equivalent to about eight years. Justice Jane Milanetti said earlier in court there is no sentence she could give Carloni that would be adequate for Drew and his family. Drew has been left significantly compromised, physically, emotionally and intellectually and he will never be the same, she said.To Carloni, Milanetti said it was up to him to “walk the talk” of the remorse he expressed yesterday and to follow through on turning his life around.

Later,
Kenaz

Larry Di Ianni pleads guilty

In a court-approved sweat-hearts deal yesterday, Hamilton Mayor Di Ianni pleaded guilty to six counts under the Municipal Elections Act. He agreed to pay $4,500 to a charity and write an essay for Municipal World magazine so others can learn from his experience. Thirty-five other charges were withdrawn.

What happened to the 35 others that were originally laid against Di Ianni by Wilkin, the hired gun who had been given carte blanche by city council to decide what charges to lay and which to take to trial? The one who was hell bent on getting justice.

Kingston lawyer Tim Wilkin, put his hopes in a hand basket and preyed the decision will send a strong message to other candidates to watch their campaign fundraising closely. Furthermore, the charges where withdrawn because Di Ianni accepted responsibility and to avoid an expensive court trial, he said. That "oh I won't do it again, I'm sorry" line didn't work on my grade school principle. How the hell does this guy think it works now?

The six counts Di Ianni pleaded guilty to reflected the types of overall violations: failing to return illegal donations in a timely manner, failing to return overcontributions in a timely manner and improper record keeping.

Wilkin asked the judge to use an exception to the rule because Di Ianni's violation was not intentional. Sure, and if I or you "unintentially" try to write off a $50.00 bar tab as a legitimate expense and when you get caught, chalk it up to bad book keeping, you would have the book thrown at you.

Judge Zuraw agreed, saying it would be "unjust and cruel" to force Di Ianni out of politics. I'm not asking for the Mayor to clean city halls mens room, just stop giving Hamiltom more black eyes.

Di Ianni is the first elected official in Ontario to be convicted of breaking the Municipal Elections Act. The law does not require the errors be intentional for conviction.

The Mayor may wish the case was over, but Joanna Chapman says she plans to counter with more charges. The mayor returned $26,000 in illegal donations, but his guilty plea only dealt with $2,000. What about the other $24,000?

Di Ianni's campaign finances may yet achieve the same status of other long-running Hamilton stories like the Red Hill Parkway and Lister Block.

IN DEPTH

Lets look at the players in the third installment of "Hamilton:The Money Pit"

* July 2004: Downtown bookstore owner,Joanna Chapman asks council to audit Mayor Larry Di Ianni's mayoral campaign expenses. She also fingers councillors Tom Jackson, Bill Kelly, Terry Whitehead and five unsuccessful candidates. Council rejects her request. Chapman announces she is going to court. Di Ianni hires an auditor to examine his books.

* December 2004: Complaints against most of the candidates are dropped after they agree to take steps to comply with the Municipal Elections Act. Chapman continues to pursue Di Ianni, John Best and Marvin Caplan, who insist they've done nothing wrong.

* May 2005: After months of arguments, Justice Timothy Culver makes history by ordering an audit of Di Ianni's books. The judge chastises council for failing or refusing to exercise its jurisdiction and not considering the merits of Chapman's case. Di Ianni has returned $19,500 in illegal donations and says any errors were unintentional.

* May 2005: Chapman lays charges against 18 companies for overcontributing to Di Ianni's campaign and violating the elections act.

* August 2005: Council hires Ken Froese, a chartered accountant with LECG Canada, to audit the books of Di Ianni, Best and Caplan.

* October 2005: Froese's investigation finds five new Di Ianni violations worth $3,300. He asks to continue his audit to dig deeper. Froese finds three apparent contraventions and one reporting error in Best's books. Caplan can't find his records.

* February 2006: Froese reports he's found another $3,100 in illegal donations to Di Ianni. For each violation, Froese notes his conclusions "relied on information not otherwise provided to Di Ianni." He also finds issues with the books of Caplan and Best. Council hires a Kingston lawyer to advise whether to lay charges.

* March 6, 2006: Council votes to charge Di Ianni after receiving a legal report that says there are grounds to do so. The vote is 12-1. It also votes to charge Best and Caplan.

* July 10, 2006: 41 charges are laid against Di Ianni. Best is charged with six counts, Caplan with one.

* Aug. 15, 2006: The charges against Best and Caplan are withdrawn in agreements that see both men donate to charity. Di Ianni's case is deferred as talks continue to avoid trial.

* Yesterday: Di Ianni pleads guilty to six charges, the other 35 are withdrawn. He agrees to make a charitable donation of $4,500 and write an essay.

Some tips for Mr. Di Ianni as he sets forth on his essay. "Wikipedia" has an excellent listing on Hamilton Mayors. Detailing great builders like Copps and Sam Lawrence. In twenty years from now Larry Di Ianni, will be nothing more than a footnote under the heading "fraud".

A bigger fraud will take place on election day, unless someone steps up and runs against Di Ianni. Hamilton needs a lion not a paper tiger.

Later,
Kenaz

Justice served for little Jeffrey

Two grandparents convicted of second-degree murder after they left five-year-old Jeffrey Baldwin to wither and die in a cold, fetid room were sentenced Friday to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 20 years.

Elva Bottineau, 54, was ordered to serve 22 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole, while husband Norman Kidman, 53, will get his first chance at early release after 20 years behind bars, said Superior Court Justice David Watt.

During his sentencing, Watt told the couple they would be allowed to apply to have their sentences reduced after just 15 years, although he had few other positive words for Bottineau in particular, whom he described as ''morally bankrupt.''

Her ''self-perception . . . is at odds with reality,'' Watt said as Bottineau shook her head in apparent disagreement.

''She thirsts for control, but flees from responsibility.''

Bottineau and Kidman were supposed to save little Jeffrey and his siblings from a life of abuse at the hands of their birth parents.

Instead, the pair used the children as a source of income, collecting government support cheques in their names while confining the young ones to a dank, cold room in their house.

It's a little comfort to know that these two animals will probably die in a 'cage' where they belong. Please click on the link for the full story or visit my previous posts on the subject.

Later,
Kenaz