In a noteworthy action, jurors from a coroner’s inquest held in Renfrew County last year, which focused on violence against women, are set to attend a meeting this week to evaluate how the provincial government has responded.
“In my experience, this is the first time I’ve witnessed something like this,” said Prabhu Rajan, chief counsel for the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario since 2016.
“It truly reflects how deeply the case affected both the jurors and the community.”
Last summer in Pembroke, a lengthy inquest examined the murders of three women that occurred in 2015: Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam.
All three victims were killed on the same day by one man, despite clear warning signs about his potential for further violence.
Over 14 days of testimony, jurors heard about issues ranging from insufficient funding for services supporting victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) to missed chances by Ontario’s probation and parole service after previous convictions involving two of the women he later murdered.
The jury-consisting of three men and two women selected from Renfrew, Griffith, Petawawa, Chalk River, and Pembroke-recommended that provincial and federal governments along with other organizations adopt 86 measures aimed at prevention.
The final recommendation urged all groups involved in the inquest-the Office of the Chief Coroner, Ontario government officials, End Violence Against Women Renfrew County advocacy group, and Warmerdam’s son Malcolm-to reconvene in one year “to discuss progress made on implementing these recommendations.”
The jurors were also invited back. Rajan mentioned last week that he anticipated four would attend Wednesday morning’s private meeting in Pembroke (the meeting details can be shared publicly).
“They felt their community was significantly impacted by these three femicides and wanted to ensure those responsible for acting on recommendations kept progressing,” Rajan explained.
Prabhu Rajan, chief counsel to the Office of the Chief Coroner, attends a news conference following the inquest in Pembroke, Ont. on June 28, 2022. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
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Lawyer Kirsten Mercer, w ho represented End Violence Against Women Renfrew County duringtheinquest, speaks duringthenewsconference.(Jean Delisle/CBC)
Until Friday, it remained unclear whether Ontariowould join thisweek’sgathering. first contactedtheprovinceon June15to inquireaboutits participation. The Officeofth Solicitor General confirmed Fridaythat representativeswouldattend.
The federal government received sevenoutofthe86recommendations, makinga callfor establishingaroyalcommissionaimedat makingthecriminaljusticesystem”morevictim-centric.”
Ottawahasn’t issuedaresponsetoyetbecause, Rajanclarified, itdidn’tgetacopyofthe recommendationsright away due toa clerical error at th e Officeofthe Chief Coroner.
Intheir emailed statement, t he Departmentof Justice assuredtheir commitmenttowards respondingby August14th.
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Picturesofthreewomenmurderedduring2015rampagewere displayedatwomensmonumentin Petawawa afterinthequest, left toright: Carol Culleton , Anastasia Kuzykand Nathalie Warmerdam.(Guy Quenneville/CBC)
Representativesfromthe Officeofthe Chief Coroner, the Officeofthe Informationand Privacy Commissioner, and federalgovernment haveconfirmed attendancewhile“we haven’theardanythingfromprovince,”Cross remarked.
“Thisgovernmenthasn’tbeenparticularlyresponsive togender-basedviolenceissues sinceits inception,”she added.
Ontario’schieffirearmsofficer-who was urgedbythejury totighten firearmpossession regulationsafter hearinghowperpet ratorusedagun although prohibited-declined Luke’s Place invitation, Crossnoted.
“Somejurorstoldus they’llbecomingtoourevent,”shesaid.“They’reguaranteed anonymityandprivacy.”![]()
The five jurors wh o heard evidence duringtheinquest were recruitedfromcounty. Someareexpectedtoreturnfor formalmeetupthisweek.(Officeofth Chief Coroner)
< #036; gt ; Malcolm Warmerdam , who hadpreviously spokenwith as Warmerdam'sson , expressedhopearepresentativefrom Ontario’sprobationandparoleservice would attend Pembroke. event.
< #036; gt ; Duringinthe quest , itwasrevealedthatperpet ratorrepeatedlybreachedparoleconditions whilemissingopportunities formonitoringclosely duringprobationfollowing earlierconvictionsagainsttwo victimsdue too intimatepartnerviolence. In its statement , t he Officeo f th Solicitor General emphasized “themurdererswho committedthese heinouscrimes shouldn’thaveeverbeenreleased initially giventoomany secondchances giventhroughthejusticesystem.”
Awaiting Ontario’s Next Steps
The Ontario government took responsibility for most of the recommendations. However, its initial response filed back in February didn’t cover 29 out of 75 recommendations directed at it. These include: Formally recognizing IPV as a provincial epidemic-a step some local authorities like Renfrew County have already taken. Developing housing plans for IPV survivors escaping abusive situations. Providing funding for safe spaces within survivor homes. Establishing a round-the-clock hotline for men at risk of committing IPV. Considering allowing police departments to share information about an individual’s IPV history with new or future partners-similar to laws implemented in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. Creating an accessible record detailing past IPV abuses and charges across all police services. Evaluating mandatory charging practices where officers must charge someone with assault if they believe there are reasonable grounds to do so. Analyzing judges’ decisions related to IPV cases. At that time, the province indicated that some unaddressed recommendations needed more examination and collaboration before proceeding with them; it expected a follow-up response by late June. As of Thursday, the Office of the Chief Coroner reported they had yet to receive that follow-up response. In an emailed statement sent Friday from the Office of the Solicitor General, the province said it would deliver part two soon. Kirsten Mercer, a lawyer representing EVA Renfrew County duringtheinquest, hopedfor quicker delivery. “It’s disappointing we’re likely goingto get another large volumeof material fromthegovernment without really having much time todigestit,” she stated.”But honestly, I’d prefer themto get it right.”Public Event Planned
Pamela Cross, directorofadvocacy at Luke’s Place-anon-profitbasedin Oshawa assistingwomenescapingviolence-saidtheyinvitedtheprovince totakepartina“public counterpart”event Luke’s Place is hostingin Petawawa Wednesdayafternoon. Eachgrouprespondingto juryrecommendationswill be given timeto talkaboutwhatthey’ve accomplishedoverpastyear.< #036; gt ; Malcolm Warmerdam , who hadpreviously spokenwith as Warmerdam'sson , expressedhopearepresentativefrom Ontario’sprobationandparoleservice would attend Pembroke. event.
< #036; gt ; Duringinthe quest , itwasrevealedthatperpet ratorrepeatedlybreachedparoleconditions whilemissingopportunities formonitoringclosely duringprobationfollowing earlierconvictionsagainsttwo victimsdue too intimatepartnerviolence. In its statement , t he Officeo f th Solicitor General emphasized “themurdererswho committedthese heinouscrimes shouldn’thaveeverbeenreleased initially giventoomany secondchances giventhroughthejusticesystem.”
Warmerdambelieved Ontario’ sdelayedresponse wasn’t “[setting] thisprocessupforsuccess.”
The province pointedout earlier announcementsregardingfundingforpoliceofficers targetingthose not adheringbail conditions.
“We acknowledge there is morework ahead, and we will utilize Renfrewjuryrecommendationsinformourfutureinvestmentsintotal anti-crime programsand policy changes,” accordingtothestatement.Nathalie Warmerdam’sson Malcolm participatedintheinquesthopes representativesfrom Ontario governmentattendthereunion.(Jean Deslisle/CBC)
Mercerstated passingtimeismeasuredinsurvivorsofwomen.
“We needtotreatthisissuewithurgencyitdemands.”
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