Saskatoon man convicted of manslaughter

Jake Ottertail

A Saskatoon man who beat his roommate to death due to an argument is guilty of manslaughter. Jake Ottertail had been charged with second degree murder for the death of Bert Haverkort on August 7 2010. The defense lawyer states that the argument was fuelled on booze, a threat and racial insult. Haverkort had told Ottertail "to calm down, you're going native on me." while fully aware that Ottertail is aboriginal. With that remark, Jake flipped out and within minutes, Bert was dead.

Ottertail's defense lawyer requested a pre-sentence report requesting that Ottertail's aboriginal background and experiences factored into the sentencing. He returns to court July 16 for sentencing arguments.

This relates to Law 12 because currently, we're talking about factors that could affect sentencing and we also talked about things that could affect the type of offence (booze).

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/story/2013/06/05/saskatoon-manslaughter-conviction-130605.html

Teens, aged 13 and 14, arrested in Skytrain assault

Two teenagers were arrested in connection to a ma who was attacked at the New Westminster Skytrain station. The attack happened on a Saturday evening when the man witnessed a boy and three girls kicking a bike lock at the bus loop. Warning the kids, the young boy came forward with a knife and punched the man in the head stealing his briefcase before running off with the three girls. Later on, two teens, a 14-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, were arrested in connection to the attack.

One of the police men on the case stated that the 14 year old boy already had more than 50 run-ins with the police while the 13 year old girl had more than 100.

This relates to Law 12 because of what we're currently learning in class and what we've been learning about minors and sentencing.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/06/05/bc-skytrain-assault-teens.html

Survivors describe grief in 'Aftermath of Murder'

A series titled "Aftermath of Murder: Survivor Stories" was produced for the BC Victims of Homicide group. In this series, it featured many people from different stories speaking about their hardships with coping.

Many of the survivors claimed that the difficult part was finding help:
"There are so few people to share our story with, and people who have had a natural death feel that they understand, but in many ways they don't."

"What I wanted more than anything else was to talk to people who can say they understand this. I didn't know anyone else who did, and that was very isolating."

Producer and host Brett Stafford described the video series as "a way of giving back.

This doesn't directly relate to Law 12 because it's more of the exploration of a person who has survived a homicide BUT, we've been talking about homicides and murders in Law 12 so.. that's the connection :)

http://www.bccatholic.ca/the-news/2753-survivors-describe-grief-in-aftermath-of-murder

To kill or not to kill has become a question

Opponents of euthanasia launched a media campaign in Quebec in advance for a May 18 March. The campaign includes a professional televised commercial showing ill patients in the hospital with a label reading: "the most vulnerable need our protection,".

"The Quebec government is working on a bill to legalize 'medical aid in dying' which really amounts to nothing else but euthanasia". The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) just released a book titled "Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Urgent Questions" outlining the Catholic teaching on the issue as well as the current state of the law.

There is no separate offence called Euthanasia under the criminal code. It's classified as either first or second degree murder, while assisted suicide has a maximum of a 14-year prison penalty.

This relates to Law 12 because at the moment we're talking about Criminal Law. I've always been pro-life and every person regardless of their health deserves the right to live.

http://www.bccatholic.ca/canadian/2699-to-kill-or-not-to-kill-has-become-a-question

Vancouver police warn of criminal chargers for carrying bear spray in the city

In Vancouver, bear spray is legal to purchase and to possess when hiking up in the mountains. When walking along the busy streets of downtown Vancouver, possession of bear spray is considered illegal. The warning of bear spray possession in the city began to rise when Vancouver policemen began a search for three men who used bear spray as a decoy when stealing from Oakridge mall. Constable Brain Montague, a spokesperson with the Vancouver police says that bear spray is much stronger than pepper spray and lasts 45 minutes longer. It could be very dangerous especially for people experiencing lung problems. The three men attacked a store containing 40 people and five were treated at the scene for inhaling large amounts of the bear spray.

This relates to our Law 12 class because it talks about how you could be faced with criminal charges for possession of bear spray in the city.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Five+customers+treated+paramedics+after+robbers+bear+spray/8048471/story.html

Montreal deacon facing child porn charges

Deacon William Kokesch

Deacon William Kokesch, a Montreal permanent deacon who served the Church for 10 years is facing child pornography charges. He was released on bail on December 27th after posting a $10,000 cash bond on the condition that he cannot use computers or be around anyone under 18 without adult supervision. The father of the five grown children will go to court with him on February 27th. Investigators had done a search on the Deacon's computer and had found over 2,000 child porn images.

This relates to Law 12 because it is about Canada, our country :) I chose this article in particular because it had to do with our Church and the national community. It is not just a scandal because it as adult posting child pornography but is intensified because he is a Deacon who serves the Church which greatly damages the Church's reputation.

http://bcc.rcav.org/canadian/2308-montreal-deacon-facing-child-porn-charges

Marriage better for women's health?

Marcelo Urquia, a scientist at St. Michael's hospital in Toronto conducted a study showing that women living in common-law arrangements were twice as likely as married women to experience either violence from their partners, substance abuse or depression post-childbirth. The study also showed that single, never-married women were more than three times as likely to experience at least one of these outcomes. The scientist compiled statistics showing that with women experiencing these outcomes, only 10.6 per cent of married women reported it, and 35 per cent of single, never married women has experienced one or more of the three issues. The worst result came from women who had separated or divorced during the 12 months before giving birth reporting that 67 per cent have experienced one or more of the three outcomes. Urquia says that this is information that doctors should take into account. He explains that "when a woman goes for her first prenatal visit, it is probably important to know whether this woman is married, co-habiting or single," and "if those questions aren't asked there is probably a missed opportunity to intervene and provide support and counselling."

This relates to our Law 12 class because we've just learned about marriage and divorce.
http://bcc.rcav.org/canadian/2276-marriage-better-for-womens-health