I said I wouldn't...
I wanted to avoid making any sort of commentary on the release of Karla Homolka. Since her release on Monday and her subsequent interview with Radio-Canada it's been Homolka madness. Really it's been a big discussion of the madness of Homolka. Every media outlet is having commentators, analysts, and average joe's try to figure out what has happened and what will happen next.
I had to laugh a little when she granted an 'exclusive' interview to Radio-Canada. Ah yes, the exclusive interview that the CBC sold to every other media outlet in the country, complete with the Quebecois accented translation.
I laughed even more when I heard the explanations for the interview. Then I tried to play the role of media analyst, and member of the public at the same time. The questions to Homolka were not hard hitting by any means, but gave her a chance to tell some of her side.There has been much discussion about her sincerity, I agree with that camp. There was no emotion at all in her eyes or on her face. No joy over being released, and no visible remorse. The only time the expression on her face was when she laughed at wanting to have an iced cappucino.
Some are questioning the public interest in Homolka, but it comes as no surprise to me. It's been over thirty years since Charles Manson and his 'family' went on their killing spree and people are still interested in what happened and what his life is like in prison. Homolka doesn't want to be hounded by the press, well I think she's out of luck. She's worries about the death threats she's received, did she expect to be welcomed back into society with open arms? She, like most sexual offenders of minors, was in solitary for much of her prison term because her safety was at risk. Yes she is at risk to be harmed, especially if people know where she is but the public has a right to know where she is because she is a registered sex offender but too damn bad. When you rape, torture and kill three young girls people don't think too highly of you. She will never have total freedom. Homolka wants to get a job, which is understandable, but what employer wants to be the one who hired her?
I think someone needs to keep an eye on her, the public damn well has a right to know where she is, and she's shit out of luck if she wants to keep a large degree of privacy. I don't dare guess if she's still a danger to society, only time will tell that one. All I know is she's out of jail, that won't change but at least we know where Bernardo is and will be staying.
posted by Nicole @ 12:34 PM
1 Comments:
Technically, she's not a registered sex offender - and therein lies part of the problem.
As part of her sweetheart deal, she copped to two manslaughter charges. And people who commit manslaughter are generally not seeing as being pathologically likely to reoffend. It's a sort of "it happened once, but it's not something ingrained to them" sort of conviction. Whereas sexual offenders have a pathological element to them that makes them likely - if not certain - to do it again.
Bernardo went down for murder, but also for sexual assault charges, and was classified as a "dangerous offender".
As such, even if he theoretically lives to be 200 years old and completes his sentence, he will never get out of jail, because the Crown says he'll do this again. That clause in the law allows us to basically throw away the key.
So essentially, the fact that she was never charged with the rapes etc. is the entire reason why we can't keep track of her. The police keep and eye on her the same way they do with someone with a simple marijuana conviction. But they can't restrict her movements. She's not even on parole - her sentence is completed in full. She's 98% a regular citizen. The only thing I think she can't do (besides obvious stuff like contact kids, or the families, or own a weapon or something) is leave the country. She can even vote, as far as I know!
Essentially, there ain't a damn thing we can do. I was pretty much indifferent to her before, but then I did a little digging online (it's easy to get around the publication ban on U.S. sites) and let's just say knowing what I know now, I'm not buying her "unwilling participant" bullshit anymore.
She is one sick puppy. True, Bernardo was the driving force, but if you get the details of what came out at the trial, you'll be convinced too.
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