Suicidal Criminal's Argument Rejected
Manitoba's highest court has rejected a man's argument that he
should be found not guilty for committing a crime because he was
suicidal at the time.
should be found not guilty for committing a crime because he was
suicidal at the time.
John Junior Charlette was convicted last year of several charges,
including robbery and assault.
His defence was that his actions were part of a scheme to have
police kill him.
Trial judge Justice Richard Saull said Charlette may have wanted
to die when he was shot by two Winnipeg police officers in a dark
alley after a botched robbery, but that it only occurred once he got
caught.
Missing And Murdered Aboriginal Women Statistic
R-C-M-P Commissioner Bob Paulson says 70 per cent of aboriginal
females killed in Canada, at least in the cases that have been
solved by police, died at the hands of other aboriginals.
females killed in Canada, at least in the cases that have been
solved by police, died at the hands of other aboriginals.
Paulson says most female homicides, across all races, are linked
to family and spousal violence.
Perry Bellegarde, the head of the Assembly of First Nations, says
it's an important statistic to know. He says everybody involved has
to start planning strategies to end the violence.
Dawn Harvard, president of the Native Women's Association of
Canada, says she doesn't understand why Paulson released the figure.
She says there's still a need for a national inquiry into missing
and murdered aboriginal women.
Oil Spill Clean-Up In Vancouver
Officials say about 20 per cent of the bunker fuel that spilled
into Vancouver's English Bay remains to be recovered.
into Vancouver's English Bay remains to be recovered.
B-C Premier Christy Clark says the Canadian Coast Guard didn't
move fast enough to contain Wednesday's spill, which came from a
freighter that's on its first voyage.
However, Clark's allegation is rejected by the coast guard, which
says its response was ``exceptional'' and ``solid.''
Federal Industry Minister James Moore says the bill for cleaning
up the 2700L spill will be paid by the Greek company that
owns the vessel.
CN Train Derails Near Calgary
The Transportation Safety Board is investigating the derailment
of a CN train in a rural area 45 km northeast of Calgary.
of a CN train in a rural area 45 km northeast of Calgary.
Twenty cars carrying grain jumped the tracks and landed on their
sides.
No one was hurt, and there was no fire.
Alberta Election Promises From Prentice
Alberta Tory Leader Jim Prentice is promising to double the size of the
Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund over the next 10 years.
Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund over the next 10 years.
On the campaign trail yesterday, Prentice noted that previous
Tory governments lost their way with the 17-billion-dollar fund and
he wants to return it to its original purpose __ saving revenues for
future generations.
For decades the Alberta government has been skimming the
investment income earned from the fund and transferring it to
general revenues for program spending.
Under Prentice's plan, which was first announced in last month's
budget, 25 per cent of all provincial energy revenues would be saved
in the Heritage Fund starting in 2019-2020.
Harper Seeking Talks With Castro
Canadian officials say Prime Minister Harper would welcome a
face-to-face chat today with Cuban President Raul Castro.
face-to-face chat today with Cuban President Raul Castro.
They're among the 35 leaders attending the Summit of the Americas
in Panama City.
Government sources say it would be a chance for Harper to tell
Castro he's encouraged at the direction Cuba is taking, but is still
``deeply concerned'' about its human rights record.
Castro meets today with U-S President Barack Obama.
This is the seventh Summit of the Americas, and the first to
include Cuba.
