Trial of Col. Russell William....

[HabSolute]

www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/10/19/russell-williams-day-2.html

Holly cow, is this guy sick or what....


I have to say, cases like this really give capital punishment a serious argument

The poor parents and family that have to listen to this horror in court, in the same room as the guy that did this to their daughter.

Especially as a father, I can't even begin to imagine the pain....

I wish I didn't read this article now !

[Disgruntled70sHab]

HS, I honestly didn't see your thread before I posted mine. Apologies.

A colleague I co-facilitate with at the local college had an office just a few doors down from the colonel. He would drop in a few times a week just to see 'how she was doing.' Then he'd ask stuff like, "... so, how is your husband?" which eventually leads to stuff like, "... so, does he work out of town often?"

From what she told me, the day after the colonel was arrested, she and all of the women in that building were brought into a conference room where a military policewoman and a counselor were waiting for them. They were told then that they were 99% sure they had their man and that counseling sessions would be provided for each of them if they chose to acept the help.

True statement follows: This guy also owns a west-end house on Edison Ave in Ottawa. This is only four blocks from where I grew up as a young boy on Tilbury Ave.

IMHO, he is a monster in the very sense of the word. Just thinking about him makes me uncomfortable. I won't be seeing the movie if, rather when, it comes out.

I feel terrible for those families, work colleagues and peers.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

We've been privy to a lot of unsettling evidence in the case thus far. But, according to CBC Executive Editor, Esther Enkin, it's only a fraction of what actually came out.

============================================================

Covering Col. Williams
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 | 1:47 PM ET
By Esther Enkin, CBC News

For the past week or more, journalists at CBC News have met in small groups, anticipating covering the Col. Russell Williams court proceedings.

We knew the hearing would be disturbing, and we knew we would have access to more material than usual in these kinds of proceedings. It is rare we get permission to report live from inside a courtroom. How would we cover it?

But really, the first question is "Why do we cover it?"

We cover it because we can be your eyes and ears in a courtroom, and we are committed to as open a justice system as possible.

We cover it because there is a strong public interest (and yes, maybe some of it is prurient) as well as a real need to understand how someone in a position of such authority, a senior member of the Canadian armed forces, could also commit these crimes. And no one seemed to suspect a double life.

The reality turned out to be more shocking than any of us knew.

The juxtaposed images of a man in full military uniform and the same man in young girl’s lingerie is an extraordinary illustration of someone who lived a double life.

Ours is a minimalist approach; we want to reflect reality using as few details as possible. So we showed one full photo of Williams posing for his camera in women’s underwear, and others that were cropped to the head and shoulders, to convey his demeanor. And remember, the photos we have access to, provided to Canadian media agencies by justice officials in the interest of openness, are benign compared to the exhibits those sitting in the courtroom have seen.

On another note, I have just followed all the testimony about the death of Cpl. Marie France Comeau, presented Tuesday morning.

What you have read is only a fraction of the detail supplied. We continue to struggle with the right balance in what we choose to post and air. Some of the choices are governed by our journalistic principles and purpose as a public broadcaster; some by our own very human reactions.

www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/10/19/enkin-williams-coverage.html

[CentreHice]

I didn't read about what Bernardo and Homolka did, and I won't read about what Williams did either. I can empathize with the parents and families enough just knowing the basic facts. I don't need a gruesome, detailed account. Same reason I won't watch slasher movies. I find it difficult to understand how people get entertainment out of the very realistic portrayal of torture and murder.

The media is struggling with "how much is too much"....and rightly so. They still want readers/viewers/ratings....but I'm glad they're at least thinking about journalistic ethics in this case.

EDIT: Not that I'm saying people who want to read/hear about the details of this case also enjoy slasher movies and are somehow warped....not at all. I'm not even saying people who enjoy slasher movies are somewhat disturbed.

Just trying to explain the connection with me.

[jkr]

I just can't fathom the coldness & his depth of cruelty. My God, photographing someone as they are dying - it's horrifying.

I think the best thing the justice system can do his put this guy in prison & force him to walk around with the rest of the prison population.

Let's see how long this subhuman would last.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

I just watched a clip from Williams' video confession and from the footage I've seen it's not as the media described it. Apparently, Williams was cold and business-like.

The clip I saw showed a very confused individual. However, it stops the interrogation before the colonel confesses. The interrogator is a master. He knows Williams did it and he lets him know it as well. There's no chance for denial; he simply won't entertain denial as he moves forward with the interrogation. Having already shown Williams the evidence and convincing him the magnitude of the investigation, the interrogator appeals to Williams' dwindling credibility. Williams' body language is specific; he becomes increasingly confused as he gradually comes to terms that he's been caught. The interrogator knows this and continues moving forward.

About 17 minutes long, but as I was saying it's not the entire session. Still, very disturbing. I won't post it here, but it is available on the CBC website.

Cheers.

Edit: There's a one-hour in-depth special on CBC right now. At first it's an interview, but it turns into a 10-hour interrogation.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Here is a one-hour episode of "The Fifth Estate" entitled "The Confession." There's a CBC disclaimer at the beginning and after each segment. Please read that first and decide if you want to go on.

The interrogator is Sgt Smith and his approach is masterful. CBC also provides experts who actually analyze the entire 10-hour interrogation.

www.cbc.ca/fifth/2010-2011/theconfession/ (link)

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

The question isn't "Death penalty, yes or no?"
It's the method of killing:
1) Imprison without possibility of parole until death by old age.
2) Hanging
3) Gas chamber
4) Lethal injection
5) Strap on a remote controlled explosive jacket and send to a crowded marketplace in Iraq.
6) Harvesting for body parts.

With thousands of GOOD people needing kidneys, hearts, organs (pick several), the killer could be put to much better use than housing and feeding the undeserving.
It makes no sense for innocent people to be sentenced to die with a failing kidney while a killer is kept alive, fed, exercised, walked, cleaned, clothed, provided with health care and dental care.

[CentreHice]

Oct 24, 2010 23:40:14 GMT -5 Habs_fan_in_LA said:

6) Harvesting for body parts.

With thousands of GOOD people needing kidneys, hearts, organs (pick several), the killer could be put to much better use than housing and feeding the undeserving.
It makes no sense for innocent people to be sentenced to die with a failing kidney while a killer is kept alive, fed, exercised, walked, cleaned, clothed, provided with health care and dental care.

Start writing a screenplay. You’re close to producer-pitching territory, I presume.

In the novel “Hominids” they sterilize the perp and his/her entire family. Genetic out-breeeding, if you will.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Oct 26, 2010 21:47:34 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

Oct 24, 2010 23:40:14 GMT -5 Habs_fan_in_LA said:

6) Harvesting for body parts.

With thousands of GOOD people needing kidneys, hearts, organs (pick several), the killer could be put to much better use than housing and feeding the undeserving.
It makes no sense for innocent people to be sentenced to die with a failing kidney while a killer is kept alive, fed, exercised, walked, cleaned, clothed, provided with health care and dental care.

Start writing a screenplay. You’re close to producer-pitching territory, I presume.

In the novel “Hominids” they sterilize the perp and his/her entire family. Genetic out-breeeding, if you will.

Hm...............

I've known two people that waited months (seemed like years) for kidneys. They were good people. They didn't deserve the disease. They deserved help.
I hear of terrible crimes and criminals. We keep them alive, pay fortunes for their care and upkeep, healthcare and legal support.
For some who need a heart immediately, not getting one is a death sentence. Waiting is a death sentence.
Harvesting good out of a repeat offender to help those who are more deserving.
Does that make me a killer or a conscientious selector of the best options. Medical, ethical, legal experts need to make those decisions, not a single individual with a penchant for equity of vengence.
Doing the right thing is what motivates all of us. The 9/11 hijackers thought they were doing the right thing. We think we are doing the right thing.
The important thing is to do the right thing first.

By the way, like the screenplay idea.

Looking for someone to play villan, the evil doctor that removes the heart from Adolph Hitler and gives it to Albert Schweitzer.