News

Read by: Aisha Samu

Stories by: Niki Mohrdar, Michael Lemieux and Brandon Judd

Produced by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi

The public inquiry into the Robert Pickton investigation has entered a new phase. Family members of the serial killer's victims testified on Monday in Vancouver, B.C.

Victim Marnie Frey's mother Lynn claimed social status was the reason a proper investigation was never launched by Vancouver police or former mayor Philip Owen.

"If Marnie would've been a woman from UBC, SFU or Langara School, somebody in the community who was higher up, or not a low-life prostitute, Philip Owen would've definitely have looked for her," she said. "But because she was an addicted prostitute, he didn't give a damn. And that's the truth of the whole matter. They just didn't give a damn."

A Quebec woman has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of her seven year old daughter.

Kathrine Dufresne appeared in court despite sustaining injuries sometime Saturday. She was ordered by the court to undergo a thirty-day psychiatric evaluation.

Quebec provincial police stated that the father arrived at his home Saturday to find his daughter unconscious. Dufresne was also injured and both were rushed to hospital where the daughter was pronounced dead. An autopsy is underway to find the exact cause of death. The father has been cleared of any involvement in his daughter’s death.

A sign which invited everyone to come see an artist present her work was posted up in front of the York amphitheatre in the EV building of Concordia University. Inside it was jam packed with cheery excited people who could barely stay put as they waited for the artist to speak, and present her work on the big screen through powerpoint slides.

Concordia University is now offering a bursary for international students who register for a French as a second language course.

The bursary is called Oui Can Help! and will help students access French language resources not only within Concordia, but also through out the city of Montreal.

Lawyers are preparing a clemency bid to take Canadian Ronald Smith off death row in the United States.

The Albertan shot and killed two of his cousins point-blank on an LSD and alcohol induced binge twenty-nine years ago.  The murders took place in Montana.

Smith pled guilty and has since regretted his original request to receive the death penalty.  Five execution dates have been overturned so far.

The clemency bid would coincide with the retirement of the incumbent democratic governor who has less to lose politically for the decision.  The governor has signed-off on one execution in his career to date.