Trial lawyer assesses six notorious murder cases With Malice Aforethought. Six Spectacular Canadian Trials. David R. Williams. Sono Nis Press. $16.95. HE LAW is not always an ass. At least, not as much of one as some writers of books and articles on sensa- tional cases make it out to be. The proof is in the fast-paced, concise account of a half-dozen notorious murder cases by David R. Williams. Williams, B.C.'s foremost biog- rapher (Sir Matthew Begbie, Simon Gunanoot, etc.) and a novelist to boot (Ace of Pentacles), brings 35 years of experience as a trial lawyer, a sharp pen and sharper wit to bear on cases selected if not with malice, at least with mischief _aforethought. With a wicked chuckle, he ad- mits in an interview with yours truly that his original title for the - boak was Guilty as Sin, but “My publishers thought that was _perhaps a bit strong.’’ There is certainly some strong .. stuff in the book, since the subject ’ is deliberate (if not always cold- — ‘ blooded), wilful murder -- the hardest of all legal charges to prove in court. "Yet Williams wastes few words "on gratuitous gore; his purpose is to review and assess the evidence which led to convictions in these cases and show how (and how 2 hard) the law really works. "The selection of cases is hardly ‘random; old or new, they il- luminate issues still befcre the - courts and in the headlines: con- “. spiracy and domestic violence in “the Demeter case, as tangled as any P.D. James tale with its cast of unsavory characters from Toron- to’s Hungarian community, and its .. portrait of the immigrant dream -. gone horribly wrong: Eat Well ee John Moore BOOK REVIEW In the case of the murder of D'Arcy McGee and the treason trial of Louis Riel, the carrying of foreign political quarrels to - Canada and the usurpation of the legal rights of the state by a self- proclaimed ‘‘provisional gov- ernment’ are the underlying issues. Both the case of Ernest Chenoweth, an eight-year-old boy who shot a Chinese cook in 1900, and the famous case of Steven Truscott, who raped and strangled a 12-year-old girl in Ontario in 1959, focus on the still topical issue of children who commit de- liberate murder. The chapter on Truscott shows Williams at his prosecutorial best; just by flatly recounting the physi- cal evidence linking Truscott to the crime, he demonstrates why the jury had no choice but to con- vict, and discredits both the methods and ethics of writers who make a quick buck out of books purporting to question the verdicts in some sensational cases. This is a book Truman Capote Live Well Enjoy Variety, Balance and Moderation The three steps to healthy, sensible eating are variety, balance and moderation — and the good news is chat you can still do all thar and enjoy the foods that you love. Look for the Eating Well tips in the Healthy Choices insert in the November 3 issue of this paper! The Healthy Choices campaign for your good health is brought to you by: CANADIAN OIABETES ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DU DIABETE and our partners: rah Se, laa SANSHIN Bey SPEEDY SUS INENIDD would have enjoyed. His non-fiction novel, In Cold Blood, revived and legitimized the “true crime” genre that had been confined to pulp magazines one read in barbershops. The result has been stacks of books so turgid in style, so padded with irrelevant detail and wild speculation that any one of them might be most effectively used as the proverbial blunt instrument in the murder of its author. Perhaps writers like Ann Rule, Joel McGinnis, Vincent “Helter- Skelter’ Bugliosi (or any writer, for that matter) ought to be struck over the head with the first copy of their book off the press. Their deceased or brain-damag- ed remains could be publicly displayed as a warning to human word-processors that good writing is not measured by the pound or ilo. James Michener and Stephen King would be dead on impact. Robertson Davies might suffer slight concussion, Margaret At- wood a minor goose-egg; poets would escape with minor abra- sions except on publication of “collected’’ poems... , There ought to be a flaw. Stand Optional SONY. MDP-455 WSCsystem © PLAYS ALL CURRENT DISC FORMATS Laser @ HIGH PICTURE QUALITY ® IMPROVED SOUND QUALITY ® FRAME/TIME SEARCH wae Ey AY Ls hse Cheeseburger Deluxe Buy a Bacon Double Cheeseburger Deluxe at the regular price and get a second Bacon Double Cheeseburger Deluxe FREE! SANT Chim pO AP Ee cone wes oF ages e ay ‘< WN ek) Ek a * Buy a Bacon Double Ay Buy a Bacon Double ‘mae, * Cheeseburger Deluxe teem, the regular price pyngee and get a second Bucon (| a SE, Deluxe FREE! Please present this Not valid with any other offer, No cash value, by beares. Valid only at participating Burger . EXPIRY DATE: OCTOBER 24, 1593 EXPIRY DATE: OCTOBER 24, 1993 ; ag * me gi a Bacon Double kk | Bacon Double ¢ Cheeseburger Deluxe x Cheeseburger Deluce ms Cheeseburger Deluxe at ate and get a second Bacon Double Cheeseburger Please present. this § ' coupon before ordering. ghrlicabte tence payable offer. No cash value. Fee te aeuronts : participating Burger FMI-4839 ®T.M. OF M,C. DE BURGER KING CORPORATION © 1993 ED M1483 TM, OF /M.C. DE BURGER KING CORPORATION © 199. Li] with bacon, cheese, lettuce, temato and mayonnaise with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tonto and mayonnaise ms ith bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise the regular price ° Double Cheeseburger Deluxe FREE! Ad coupon before ordering. Not valid with any other Bpplicable tare hayanie Applicable taxes payabie ing? Restaurants, Ce eee EP ECC ELC LL GCE Erb DELL EEL Do BRSSEBASRESSASeeRNes BSESSRRR0ERS8 4 #4 KV27TS29 TRINITRON TV «RO DEEP BLACK. TRINITRON PICTURE TUBE © NEW! HIGH TECH STYLED CABINET © SURROUND SOUND FOR A. RICHER SOUND \\ pus: 2 AUDIO/VIDED INDUTS © SONY REMOTE. COMMANDER SSOREAT PICTURE! ; GREAT PRICE! te 4 q ke WHILE STOCKS ST IN LASER DISCS/FILMS CAN BE RENTED FROM MANY N.SHORE VIDEO STORES. PARKING IN REAR OF BULDING