Our Crime Panel questions if the judge in the Larry Nassar trial crossed a judicial line, the sentencing of the Manyshots brothers in Calgary and federal funds for at-risk youth.
“I have signed your death warrant”
It's that comment, among others, from Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina that is drawing widespread criticism.
On Wednesday, Judge Aquilina sentenced former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar to 40 - 175 years in prison, time that will be served followed a 60-year sentence for possession of child pornography.
Although many praised Judge Aquilina for her sympathy towards the more than 160 victims who testified against Nassar, it was her comments during sentencing that many are saying crossed a line.
Some say the comments to Nassar such as, “It is my honour and privilege to sentence you,” and “Our Constitution does not allow for cruel and unusual punishment. If it did … I would allow some or many people to do to him what he did to others.” threaten the cornerstone of a judicial system based on the principle of innocent until proven guilty.
Reaction to sentencing of Manyshots brothers
Calgary brothers were sentenced to 12-years behind bars after pleading guilty to kidnapping and sexual assault in 2016.
Crown Prosecutor Jonathan Hak called it “one of the most depraved offences” that he’d worked on, calling the act "Just unmitigated evil, frankly." In the neighborhood of Taradale in 2014 Corey and Cody Manyshots dragged a 17-year-old girl into a nearby alley, physically and sexually assaulting her, before forcing her to walk with them back to their home where they continued to rape her. It wasn’t until the next morning the teenage girl was able to escape.
The teenage brothers underwent psychological evaluations during the trial, it was determined they suffer from extreme fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, along with other impairments and cognitive disabilities.
Provincial court Judge Terry Semenuk agreed with the Crown’s request to ensure the duo served a minimum of six years before becoming eligible to apply for parole. Due to credit for time served its expected the brothers will spend just over seven years incarcerated.
Federal funding targets at-risk youth
The YMCA has been given $5 million in federal funding to grow a program targeting youth at-risk of committing crime.
Plusone Mentoring uses “trained volunteers to individually mentor youth about the life challenges they are facing.” The program will be introduced in Moncton, Montreal, Regina and Surrey.
A recent review of the program found that 86% of youth involved reported improvement in their behavior and attitude.
Our Crime Panel includes: Morgan McLelland, defence lawyer; Keith Spencer, retired criminologist and Kevin Martin, court reporter for Postmedia.
