COURTS SOFT ON DOMESTIC ABUSERS------RUNCIMAN
(Brockville) – With two recent Brockville murders allegedly the result of domestic violence, Leeds-Grenville MPP and former Solicitor General, Bob Runciman, is once again calling on Ontario’s Liberal government to “shine a light” on what’s happening in the province’s courts.
Runciman’s call was spurred on by a court decision last week in Ottawa that saw a man convicted of a “brutal” and “vicious” attack on his former wife, granted 2 for 1 credit for time served awaiting trial and consequently qualifying for parole after only 3 years in prison.
Kabba Jobateh was convicted of the attempted murder of his former wife, stabbing her in the neck, chest and stomach in front of two of their children.
“The court decision sends out all the wrong messages about the seriousness of domestic violence and erodes confidence in the justice system” asserted the MPP.
Runciman called on the McGuinty government to reconsider legislation introduced by P.C. leader John Tory and voted down by the Liberals, that would require an annual report to the legislature detailing what’s happening in the courts. The report would contain statistics on things such as the number of bail violations, sentencing deals and adjournments. Liberals rejected the initiative arguing that it would “jeopardize judicial independence.”
“The Ontario P.C. Party strongly believes that the public has a right to know what’s going on in our justice system” stated Runciman. “Ontarians should be able to know which courts are summarily handing out 2 and 3 for 1 credits for time served awaiting trial and are prepared to ignore a Crown’s recommendation on parole eligibility.”
“John Tory’s legislation in no way interferes with the independence of the judiciary and the Liberals’ intransigence makes you wonder what they’re trying to hide” Runciman concluded.
