By arthur Weinreb
Tuesday, June 28, 2005Corrections Canada has refused permission for convicted schoolgirl killer Paul Bernardo to hold a press conference or otherwise speak to the media. Holly Knowles, a spokeswoman for Corrections Canada gave reasons why this would not be done. These reasons ranged from security concerns to disruption in the institution that Bernardo is currently housed in.
One reason, security, would have been sufficient even though it is difficult to comprehend how speaking to the media through a video link, as has been suggested, could compromise safety. But the giving of additional reasons casts suspicion that Corrections Canada simply doesn’t want to let Bernardo speak publicly and are using several excuses, hoping one of them will placate their citics.
Sure there will be some people who will be outraged at Bernardo facing the camera, but criticisms of the department has never been a concern before. If it had been, we wouldn’t be exposed to prisoners living in apparent luxury in some institutions, affectionately referred to as Club Fed.
There is no suggestion that Bernardo wants to taunt his victims and their families or otherwise toy with people in the manner that serial killer Clifford Olsen did. Nor is there any suggestion that Bernardo wants to say anything other than to comment on his former wife, Karla Homolka.
Homolka will be free next week and there is some suggestion that she might speak to a more than willing media. Homolka is a manipulator who, if she does speak, will undoubtedly draw sympathy from some Canadians including the odd member of Canada’s august Senate. Homolka, who testified against Bernardo at his trial, has already spoken in public while Bernardo has yet to comment on the horrific crimes that he and Homolka committed.
Bernardo is the only person, at least the only living, who can comment upon Karla’s role in the murders of Kristen French, Leslie Mahaffy and the death of her own sister, Tammy. If Bernardo is not allowed to speak publicly, Canadians will be deprived of another first hand account of what actually transpired during the couple’s crime spree.
Sure, in addition to being a rapist, torturer and killer, Paul Bernardo may be less than completely honest in any statements that he might make. If that were a proper consideration a law would have to be passed banning politicians from ever appearing before the media. In Ontario we could call it "Dalton’s Law".
There is no justification for not allowing Paul Bernardo, is some form, to communicate his views on his ex-wife who continues to see herself, not as an evil criminal but as just another one of Paul Bernardo’s victims. This factor alone should be enough to require that we hear from Bernardo.
Could it be that Corrections Canada is attempting not to inflame criticism of the "sweetheart deal" given to Homolka by preventing Bernardo from saying that Karla’s role was more than she is willing to admit to? That doesn’t make a lot of sense; but either do the excuses that Corrections Canada is coming up with to refuse permission for Bernardo to speak.