In an interesting article by the London Free Press, it has been revealed that accused murderer Col. Russell Williams not only attended the same University and classes, but that they were “pals” and hung out together on numerous occasions.
Last week Col. Williams was charged with two counts of first degree murder, sexual assaults, home invasion, and it has been alleged that he committed approximately four dozen break and enters with the intention of obtaining lingerie.
As this case moves forward, nobody really knows where the fallout of this alleged serial predator (because let’s face it, this is what he is) will stop.
Let us focus on the victims and the family of those who have been victimized.
Ryan Venables is a third year law student at the University of Western Ontario. He holds B.A. (2001) from the University of Western Ontario in Political Science and Sociology. Ryan was also enrolled in a M.A.- Journalism at the University of Western Ontario before withdrawing to attend law school. Before pursuing a formal education in law, Ryan served with the York Regional Police as a police officer for five years specializing in organized crime. He also served in the Special Investigations Section with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for two years. His legal interests include employment/labour, criminal, family, and human rights law.
When Ryan is done law school he will be articling with Ross & McBride LLP in Hamilton, Ontario.
With no disrespect to the author, I am a little bothered by this post. Ryan seems to be suggesting that Col. Williams’s acquaintance with Paul Bernardo makes him guilty or at least more of a suspect.
I also went to the same school and attended the same classes as Bernardo and Williams (albeit 20 years later). I hope that this does not classify me as a serial predator.
I hope that police, prosecutors and courts focus on the actions of the individual, not who his “pals†were and who he “hung out [with] on numerous occasions”. The fact that Williams was “pals” with Bernardo should only be relevant insofar as the two may have committed criminal offences together, and so far, there is absolutely no evidence of that.
Vitali, no disrespect taken, although I think you should read the first and last line of my post again and perhaps rethink what I am suggesting. Although as a classmate, I feel a heads up would have been nice, but I digress and that’s just me.
I notice some of the language you are using is rather weak and non-committal. Are you suggesting that I am suggesting his acquaintance with Bernardo makes him guilty or a suspect? Or is this some sort of a poll that you want your reader to engage in? If you are suggesting that I am drawing the link, say it outright.
In my post, I am passing along a piece of information that has been reported by a number of Canadian news agencies, the one I happened to read may or may not have suggested this. Although, if you actually read the article (instead of becoming bothered by it), Paul Bernardo’s father could not confirm a relationship between the two people. I posted the link to the article specifically because it was an interesting read, but I did not want to recreate the entire piece on our site.
With respect to your last paragraph, I agree, but again nowhere did I suggest that their potential relationship was relevant. Again perhaps a re-read is necessary, because I specifically said “alleged” serial predator, as well as offering an opinion that the media focus on the victims, and not some potential link to one of Canada’s dark spots.
I can guarantee that the police and Crown already knew of the information, and the article even says “police sources” provided the information. In my experiences, the relationship between the right side of the court and the media is a very tricky and careful dance. I have been involved with the prosecution/police and the media, given information as well as written on information for developing stories. Will they now investigate the potential relationship? Sure, but will it drive the investigation? No. It is what it is. Probably nothing more than a coincidence.
If you’re still so bothered by the article, I suggest you write a letter to the editor of the London Free Press, they were the ones who posted the article.
I also wonder (aloud) if you’re more bothered by the fact that the mighty UofT is mentioned and now bears this dark stain for being the breeding ground for two (alleged in one case) serial predators than my so called “suggested” link between the two of them? If the UofT p.r. people have not done any kind of press release on this, I’m sure they don’t need you clarifying that UofT Scarborough Campus + Economics does not = Serial Predator.
Lastly, do I think you’re a serial predator? From my experiences with you, I’d say no… but talk to me in 20 years.
With no disrespect to the author, I am a little bothered by this post. Ryan seems to be suggesting that Col. Williams’s acquaintance with Paul Bernardo makes him guilty or at least more of a suspect.
I also went to the same school and attended the same classes as Bernardo and Williams (albeit 20 years later). I hope that this does not classify me as a serial predator.
I hope that police, prosecutors and courts focus on the actions of the individual, not who his “pals†were and who he “hung out [with] on numerous occasions”. The fact that Williams was “pals” with Bernardo should only be relevant insofar as the two may have committed criminal offences together, and so far, there is absolutely no evidence of that.
Vitali, no disrespect taken, although I think you should read the first and last line of my post again and perhaps rethink what I am suggesting. Although as a classmate, I feel a heads up would have been nice, but I digress and that’s just me.
I notice some of the language you are using is rather weak and non-committal. Are you suggesting that I am suggesting his acquaintance with Bernardo makes him guilty or a suspect? Or is this some sort of a poll that you want your reader to engage in? If you are suggesting that I am drawing the link, say it outright.
In my post, I am passing along a piece of information that has been reported by a number of Canadian news agencies, the one I happened to read may or may not have suggested this. Although, if you actually read the article (instead of becoming bothered by it), Paul Bernardo’s father could not confirm a relationship between the two people. I posted the link to the article specifically because it was an interesting read, but I did not want to recreate the entire piece on our site.
With respect to your last paragraph, I agree, but again nowhere did I suggest that their potential relationship was relevant. Again perhaps a re-read is necessary, because I specifically said “alleged” serial predator, as well as offering an opinion that the media focus on the victims, and not some potential link to one of Canada’s dark spots.
I can guarantee that the police and Crown already knew of the information, and the article even says “police sources” provided the information. In my experiences, the relationship between the right side of the court and the media is a very tricky and careful dance. I have been involved with the prosecution/police and the media, given information as well as written on information for developing stories. Will they now investigate the potential relationship? Sure, but will it drive the investigation? No. It is what it is. Probably nothing more than a coincidence.
If you’re still so bothered by the article, I suggest you write a letter to the editor of the London Free Press, they were the ones who posted the article.
I also wonder (aloud) if you’re more bothered by the fact that the mighty UofT is mentioned and now bears this dark stain for being the breeding ground for two (alleged in one case) serial predators than my so called “suggested” link between the two of them? If the UofT p.r. people have not done any kind of press release on this, I’m sure they don’t need you clarifying that UofT Scarborough Campus + Economics does not = Serial Predator.
Lastly, do I think you’re a serial predator? From my experiences with you, I’d say no… but talk to me in 20 years.