It's doubtful that anyone who knows the case -- and even anyone who doesn't -- is unaware that Karla Homolka got away with murder when she was sentenced to only 12 years in the sexual killings of three teenagers, one of whom was her sister.
Basically, she got such a light sentence because the Crown didn't think it had enough evidence to prosecute her rapist husband, Paul Bernardo, and negotiated a deal for her testimony against him. Then graphic videotapes were discovered of the murders -- so Karla's testimony was mere icing on the prosecution's cake.
But as with the RCMP's deal with the late Clifford Olson to pay $10,000 for each of the 11 murder sites he led them to, the deal with Karla could not be revoked. Nor should it have been. A deal is a deal, especially if made by the police and the Crown. Inefficiency on the part of the police in not finding the Bernardo videotapes was (and is) an embarrassment, but the deal can't be undone.
As for Karla, she served her time and fled to the Caribbean, determined to avoid the spotlight -- until discovered by former TV reporter Paula Todd: married with three children living in Guadeloupe. Todd wrote a small ebook about her enterprise, and Maclean's magazine ran with the story in their best National Enquirer style.
Whatever one thinks should have happened to Karla Homolka, she is a free woman now. The idea that she is a danger to anyone -- kids she is alleged to have been teaching in Guadeloupe, or her own children -- seems preposterous. As reflected in Maclean's, reporter Todd's attempt to glamorize herself verges on the ludicrous. Although Homolka talked for an hour with her (but "no way in hell" would she allow photos), Todd writes: "I know that every moment I'm with Homolka could be my last."
Give us a break, honey! Was Karla likely to strangle her?
Again, Todd relfects: "You'd be surprised how much you can think about when you're wolf-alert to danger." Really? What danger? There's no Bernardo around to motivate Karla. One suspects Paula Todd is exploiting her big chance, even indulging in the tired cliche that tracking Karla Homolka down was in the "public interest."
In her account, Todd acknowledges that Karla's children seem happy and well cared for. When Homolka questions that view based on just meeting her, Todd responds by saying she's been in places where children are neglected, and Karla's daughter is "happy, fun, lovely and she's used to attention."
Homolka agrees: "She's very used to attention." Even so, Todd apparently feels her life was in danger, as if Homolka is Lizzie Borden, ever-ready to wield an axe. Then, of course, Maclean's depiction of former Life photographer Zoran Milich, lurking four days in the jungle behind Karla's house to get a grab-shot of her holding her baby, makes it sound like Mission: Impossible, besieged as he was by bugs and annoyed goats. To his credit, Milich seems to have absorbed the assignment with equanimity, and then went on to his next job.
It's difficult to have sympathy for Karla Homolka, even as she's persecuted by "public interest" reporters. Better to question the judicial system that freed her. As long as she stays out of trouble, why not leave her alone?
She likely has little to no interest in returning to Canada and any attempts to stalk, harass or threaten a French national (or landed immigrant) within French territory are only going to result in jail time and/or eviction from that territory.
We may not like the deal her lawyer engineered for her, but the blame for that deal has demonstrably been shown to go to police forces and Crown attourneys here in Canada. If we don't want to see another situation that parallels what happened our attention should be on reforming laws and police as well as Crown procedures in criminal cases. She is France's problem now and forever more.
Most people faced with getting caught and facing the court try to grease the palms of judges, lawyers and cops to get out of what they had been acussed. Justice is a two way street. If convicted the accused can pay the price and move in life or squeak by and try not to own what they had done.
Homolka is fair game. If she feels harrased she can get a lawyer. Using children as a shield against harassment is another form of manipulation part of a poor me complex.
"We Let Omar Khadr Out, Now Let's Leave Him Alone".
How does that feel, Peter?
If if we were, we aren't in the business of sterilization (anymore).
Much as I am fascinated to learn about KH's present circumstances, I also would rather not know any more about her. She did her time. I would like to know even less about nauseating freak show Magnotta. Why does the press feed his insatiable ego with glamour shots all the time? Let's keep him on the back pages.
No Mr. Worthington, WE didn't do any such thing. Our lax penal system did that. WE were left dumbfounded and scratching our heads as she walked into what she hoped would be obscurity. Quite frankly, I don't think WE give a flying patootie what happens to her. There are 19 known cases of rape and murder so heinous that the world cried out for the death penalty to be restored in Canada. She willingly turned her sister into a sacrificial lamb at the feet of evil incarnate. Her own sister! We hope that this woman who carries the moniker BEAST on her forehead and imprinted onher soul, looks in the mirror each day and sees her sister staring back at her. We hope that every time she looks at her children, she sees the faces of Kristen, Leslie and Tammy and remembers
Toronto couls enlist her in the Hall of Fame.
No, Mr. Worthington, WE did no such thing. A lax penal system did that and those in power allowed it to happen while WE were left scratching shaking our heads either in complete disgust or wonderment, perhaps both. You can bet that we don't give a flying patootie what happens to her. I know life goes on and she has to go on living it in one form or another, but WE hope that every single day she looks in her mirror, the face staring back is that of her sister. We hope that every time she looks at her children, SHE remembers how she sacrificed her sister at the feet of evil incarnate. Her sister! In all, there were 19 known cases of either rape, murder or both. The woman shares the name of BEAST and it won't matter where she decides to move to, someone, somewhere will recognize her. The 'law' has seen to it that she can run, but she can't hide especially from the tortured faces of Leslie, Kristen and Tammy. How the hell is she ever going to explain this one to her children.