Archive for July, 2009

The Last Six Minutes – A Mother’s Loss and Quest for Justice

Matthew’s killers have been tried, convicted and sentenced, but Sandra Martins-Toner and her family can’t escape their grief and the overwhelming sense of loss. They have channeled their anguish in to affirmative action for victims. The Last Six Minutes is the true account of the random and violent murder of 16-year-old Matthew Martins, and his family’s journey through the Canadian Criminal Justice System. Now the family is faced with the killers appeal and the torment of perhaps being subjected to yet another lengthy trial.

The news of Melissa Todorovic’s fate made headlines this week.

She was 15-years-old when 14-year-old Stefanie Rengel was fatally stabbed by Todorovic’s 17-year-old boyfriend on Jan. 1, 2008. Becuase of her age she was tried under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and convicted of first-degree murder.

When it came to her sentencing this week, the judge imposed a much harsher prison term than the maximum youth sentence. He sentenced Melissa Todorovic as an adult to life in prison.

Implications of the Outcome

For their thoughts on the implications of applying adult punishments to young offenders, Tom was joined by three guests.

David Toner is the president and co-founder of Families against Crime and Trauma, or FACT, and he was in Vancouver.

Bill Trudell is the Chair of the Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers. He was in Toronto.

Rosemary Gartner is a professor of Criminology and Sociology at the University of Toronto. She was in Toronto.

Listen to Part One: http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2009/200907/20090730.html