crime and

em punishment

_THE RECENT appointment ‘of North Vancouver resident ‘Judge Selwyn Romilly to the

B.C. Supreme Court bench has stunned many watchers of _. the justice system and infuriat- -ed the mother of a murdered : 10-year-old. girl.

.. .The newly appointed Mr. Justice “Romilly, regular readers of this _. space wail remember, is the very 7 same person who asa provincial : court judge in Burnaby, ignored the recommendations of both the | -' Crown and the defence in arriving: ‘at an astonishing and outrageous | “decision to free Brett Shane Neff. “Neff went on to savagely mur- °. der 10-year-old Melissa Deley in. : a furey just nine days after he was .!

Members of the Burnaby.” “detachment of the RCMP have ~ ! ‘been exceedingly frustrated by the “decisions made by Romilly when he sat in their jurisdiction. *~ While the RCMP. are prohibited

- from commenting publicly on’ “issues such as this; privately they . feel the rights of the. victim and the

ights of the ‘public are simply not protected ih’ some’ cases heard by elwyn Romilly. oe “Strong statement? 'Absolutely.. “°°.

ve But nevertheless, this attitude i is

rampant within. he ranks of the

<In'the short term, Burnaby and Coguitlars police are inevitably © relieved they will no longer have to suffer through the puzzling deci- sions emanating from Romilly’ s

"But it is the long tertn that .. “should concern everyone, “CSA Justice of the Supreme Court 148 responsible for sitting in judge-- “ment of: the decisions reached by lower court judges. “ “<Hfe or’she is responsible for set- ting judicial precedent which other - courts are duty bound to follow, » however incredible they may be. © ‘To top it off, a Justice of the -Gupreme Court can never be © -removed from the position, “Never...

small fine.”

In a letter to the attorney gener- al, Mitchell asked for consideration in putting forth a recommendation {o the federal government for reform to the appointment process.

He suggests an all party select standing committee of the BC leg- islature be formed to examine indi- vidual candidates for the high £ court,

In Mitchell's view this would allow for an airing of any concerns

ENTIRE STOCK &7° WE CARRY

“temameaan> §| A HUGE SELECTION OF

- The attorney general declined to comment on Mitchell’s concerns

.; claiming it would be inappropriate

to criticize members of the judicia- ry. _

- However, he did not dismiss Mitchell's suggestion as had his predecessor, Colin Gablemann when Mitchell raised this very mat- ter in the Legislature.

For Dawn Bakeberg, the mother of the murdered Melissa Detey, the news of the appointment was shocking.

“It felt as though Neff was alive and they had released him. It was like a kick in the gut,” she said.

Bakeberg has filed 2 formal let-. ter of complaint concerning the judicial actions of Romilly with the Chief Judge of the provincial court.

“I can’t bring my daughter back but if it weren't for him my daugh- in

ter would still be alive.

“As long as I'm breathing I’ m:

, going to hold the judicial system

responsible for the death of my daughter. ° . “Initially 1 just wanted him pun-

_ ished, But now I'm after his job."

It stretches credibility to believe

. Selwyn Romilly is the best choice |

available.

If a poll were taken amiong »... members of the RCMP or Crown counsel who have appeared in front of Romilly, 1 feel quite certain the

“expressed opinion would be that he

is the worst possible choice, with | the possible exception of Judge E.J.- : Cronin who continually mystifies | the regulars at 222 Main Strect i in

-Vancouver.

So how did this appointment:

e happen?

I can’t say for certain, but I have’ heard several theories. ;

However, given the fact that’ Romilly is the first black Justice appointed to the Supreme Court,

_ methinks political correctness was

somchow involved in the process.

.

1 & COTTON PLACEMATS & AREA Rucs * Brass GIFTWARE % SILK FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS | & SOLID OAK DINETTE SET * TRON BEDS AND FRAMES os and much, much morel! Ne

ee ressar

’ Vases

Independent MLA for West ; There's an aging second fridge chomping up energy You could save energy and the environment,

- Vancouver-Garibaldi David

«Mitchell was outraged after hearing of the appointment. . Displaying rare courage for a : politician, Mitchell wrote to the _» attorney general to express his ‘con- -cems. Historically, members of the ~

“judiciary are not criticized publicly. -

sp Mitchell felt this appointment was Offensive in view of the con- troversy following the killing of

*Deley and went public with his concerns.

““hustice has failed doubly ‘by “having sonicone like Mr, Romilly being rewarded with this appoint- ment,” said Mitcheil.

“A tragic murder nliay have been prevented if a criminal with a vio- lent record had simply been . © “detained rather than let go with a

in the, basement. Or perhaps you're thinking of

buying a new fridge but you're not sure what to

do with the old one. In either case, BC. Hydro can help,

Free pick-up of your old / energy-guzzler,

We'll pick up your fridge as s long as i's in working condition and between 10-24 cubic feet.* And using ehviron-

"a mentally-sound methauls, we'll salely “reeyele the ozone depleting CFC

refrigerant and all the metal.

Old fridges can use up.to twice as much clec- tricity as today’s energy- -efficient models. : By turning in your old, operating 2 & ‘- fridge, you can reduce your Hydro ‘ : bill and the energy you save takes a load off the environment. To arrange for free pick-up, calt “the Refrigerator Recovery Hotline ay

| I- 800-663-2274 through- BA WeR]

© out B.C. oF 683-2274 in SMERIAT

ac... the Lower Mainland. paves More’. n Than Money

“BGhydro |

+ Muxinum tee per customer, BC Hydra teserves the tight Jo change or cancel the offer at any tite without prior notice, © Offer available w B.CHudro customers enly.y 7