Zach LarkinsLUCK
Ryan Aldridge is one lucky man. He has Katy Hutchison on his side. Who is Ryan Aldridge? The man who stomped Bob McIntosh to death. Who is Katy Hutchison? McIntosh's widow. She is now remarried but has found fame and fortune in her oh so liberal forgiveness of Aldridge. Putting a twist to the Cindy Sheehan outrage, Hutchison has launched a high-profile career based on her forgiveness. She is writing a book, speaking over time to some 80,000 students across this country about restorative justice, and starring with her husband's killer in a CBC-TV documentary called ‘Embracing Bob's Killer'. Doesn't she have a big heart?
Bob McIntosh was a 40-year-old lawyer described, the captain of the Canadian triathalon team and father of then 5-year-old twins. He was stomped to death in the B.C. town of Squamish on New Year's Eve 1997 when he went to a neighbour's house to investigate a drunken teenage party. For his troubles, this innocent man had his head repeatedly kicked in like a cheap soccer ball. But Hutchison says all is forgiven after Aldridge was sentenced to five-years manslaughter for booting Bob McIntosh into the next life. There was no Governor General's Award for Bravery for Bob McIntosh. And there was no forgiveness of another man by another family like there was extended, on public television, to Ryan Aldridge by Katy Hutchison. Forgiving is one thing, but forgiving the killer of a family member is quite another.
Kathleen Harris, the Sun Media's national affairs writer, says that in the last six years, the National Parole Board has awarded more than 100,000 pardons, including two for murder convictions and 162 for manslaughter. Documents obtained by Harris under Access to Information reveal that killers, rapists, child sex offenders, child porn producers and violent attackers have all had their criminal records set aside so they can more easily obtain a passport or seek employment with a clean slate. Who knows what Katy Hutchison wants for her husband's killer for supposedly turning his life around, and playing best-supporting actor to her starring role in the CBC-produced documentary. One of those pardons, no doubt? Maybe an Order of Canada?
No doubt Ryan Aldridge will get a pardon. After all, 162 pardons for manslaughter have been handed out since 2000 without, one must assume, any of the 162 gravesites having been visited by board members who hand out these pardons carte blanche. The dead are dead, and life is for the living, or so says the argument the bleeding hearts like to employ against the hard line.
On the other side of the coin, we have Henry Danninger. He was not as lucky as Aldridge. His life's card doomed him to run a knife through the heart of an innocent man's heart, one Andy Moffitt. Moffitt's family, and particularly his mother, Paulette, are no Katy Hutchison when it comes to embracing Andy's killer. Moffitt was a 23-year-old engineering student at the University of Ottawa, described as a computer whiz and scholar. He was knifed on the eve of Christmas Eve 1998 when he tried to play the Good Samaritan to two strangers involved in a barroom scuffle who were arguing over the theft of a drug cache. As with Aldridge, Danninger received a sentence of five-years manslaughter. That's the only similarity in these two cases.
Paulette Moffitt and her family have been fighting back at every turn when it comes to Danninger. They fought, and won, when Danninger attempted to get early parole without earning a single stitch of early release time. They have been fighting, through a private member's bill launched by their local MP, Leeds and Grenville's Gord Brown, to get stiffer sentences for knife- wielding murderers. Paulette Moffitt has also become a writer of letters to the editor. Not quite the book deal Hutchison has in the works, but Moffitt is nothing if not persistent. She never wants to see the day Danninger gets a pardon. "I am appalled and shocked to find out that my son's killer could request a pardon, and have his slate wiped clean," she said. "I believe it is time for all Canadians to rally together and demand our government put a stop to pardons for killers, rapists, and those who commit crimes against children. One person cannot change things, but many can. What happened to Andy can happen to anyone's loved one if they share the same values that prompted our Andy to get up and help that terrible night. He died doing the right thing." And they have his Medal of Bravery proving he did not die in vain.
Danninger copped a guilty plea to manslaughter, although he was originally charged with second- degree murder and he still expresses no remorse. Time passes, memory fades. Maybe one day Henry Danninger will get his pardon.
This is a sickening thing to think about. I have to go with the Moffitts on this one. No forgiveness and no forgetting. If only our judicial system and politicians could see it the same way. Hutchison can go to hell.
Sources: Mark Bonokoski To Forgive ... Or Not The Toronto Sun
Bob McIntosh was a 40-year-old lawyer described, the captain of the Canadian triathalon team and father of then 5-year-old twins. He was stomped to death in the B.C. town of Squamish on New Year's Eve 1997 when he went to a neighbour's house to investigate a drunken teenage party. For his troubles, this innocent man had his head repeatedly kicked in like a cheap soccer ball. But Hutchison says all is forgiven after Aldridge was sentenced to five-years manslaughter for booting Bob McIntosh into the next life. There was no Governor General's Award for Bravery for Bob McIntosh. And there was no forgiveness of another man by another family like there was extended, on public television, to Ryan Aldridge by Katy Hutchison. Forgiving is one thing, but forgiving the killer of a family member is quite another.
Kathleen Harris, the Sun Media's national affairs writer, says that in the last six years, the National Parole Board has awarded more than 100,000 pardons, including two for murder convictions and 162 for manslaughter. Documents obtained by Harris under Access to Information reveal that killers, rapists, child sex offenders, child porn producers and violent attackers have all had their criminal records set aside so they can more easily obtain a passport or seek employment with a clean slate. Who knows what Katy Hutchison wants for her husband's killer for supposedly turning his life around, and playing best-supporting actor to her starring role in the CBC-produced documentary. One of those pardons, no doubt? Maybe an Order of Canada?
No doubt Ryan Aldridge will get a pardon. After all, 162 pardons for manslaughter have been handed out since 2000 without, one must assume, any of the 162 gravesites having been visited by board members who hand out these pardons carte blanche. The dead are dead, and life is for the living, or so says the argument the bleeding hearts like to employ against the hard line.
On the other side of the coin, we have Henry Danninger. He was not as lucky as Aldridge. His life's card doomed him to run a knife through the heart of an innocent man's heart, one Andy Moffitt. Moffitt's family, and particularly his mother, Paulette, are no Katy Hutchison when it comes to embracing Andy's killer. Moffitt was a 23-year-old engineering student at the University of Ottawa, described as a computer whiz and scholar. He was knifed on the eve of Christmas Eve 1998 when he tried to play the Good Samaritan to two strangers involved in a barroom scuffle who were arguing over the theft of a drug cache. As with Aldridge, Danninger received a sentence of five-years manslaughter. That's the only similarity in these two cases.
Paulette Moffitt and her family have been fighting back at every turn when it comes to Danninger. They fought, and won, when Danninger attempted to get early parole without earning a single stitch of early release time. They have been fighting, through a private member's bill launched by their local MP, Leeds and Grenville's Gord Brown, to get stiffer sentences for knife- wielding murderers. Paulette Moffitt has also become a writer of letters to the editor. Not quite the book deal Hutchison has in the works, but Moffitt is nothing if not persistent. She never wants to see the day Danninger gets a pardon. "I am appalled and shocked to find out that my son's killer could request a pardon, and have his slate wiped clean," she said. "I believe it is time for all Canadians to rally together and demand our government put a stop to pardons for killers, rapists, and those who commit crimes against children. One person cannot change things, but many can. What happened to Andy can happen to anyone's loved one if they share the same values that prompted our Andy to get up and help that terrible night. He died doing the right thing." And they have his Medal of Bravery proving he did not die in vain.
Danninger copped a guilty plea to manslaughter, although he was originally charged with second- degree murder and he still expresses no remorse. Time passes, memory fades. Maybe one day Henry Danninger will get his pardon.
This is a sickening thing to think about. I have to go with the Moffitts on this one. No forgiveness and no forgetting. If only our judicial system and politicians could see it the same way. Hutchison can go to hell.
Sources: Mark Bonokoski To Forgive ... Or Not The Toronto Sun
You then finish your blog enititled "Luck" by suggesting I "go to hell". I am trying hard to figure out how to exlpain to my children that this consitiutes an intelligent conversation...
Contrary to your suggestion that I have launched a high-powered career based on my forgiveness, I have in fact been working full time speaking to youth about social responsibility. More specifically, the use of alcohol and other drugs, violence, and the dangers of out-of-control house parties.
Why is it wrong for me to charge for an activity that I engage in on a full-time basis, and clearly has value? Are you not paid for some type of employment? The fact that I am paid enables me to volunteer a great number of hours working with high-risk youth and to contribute financially to a number of charities that support safe community. I was awarded the Canadian Living From Me to We award for social action last year. The prize was a $5,000.00 donation to the charity of my choice. The money went to L.O.V.E. (Leave Out Violence), a non-profit that works with youth that are victims, witnesses or perpetrators of violence.
If you checked your facts you would see that I do not have "a book deal in the works". My book, entitled Walking After Midnight was published in September 2006. I am innundated daily with positive feedback from readers who express their gratitude for what I have written. If you are interested, I am sure your local public library has a copy available.
I am then dragged into an arguement presented in Bonokowski's article about Canada's justice system and the granting of pardons to criminals. A discussion I have never spoken about publicly, or privately for that matter. I am, as many of my friends and colleagues would attest, a non-political person. I think it unfair to speculate what my position on such matters would be.
I also think it wrong to "pit" my story against that of another family who has lost a loved one to a violent crime. I applaud Pauline Moffitt for standing up for what she believes in. It is entirely inappropriate to compare the way our families have dealt with our losses, and the paths to healing we have chosen.
I have never, ever suggested that forgiveness means forgetting. Bob will never be forgotten by me, or by our family. However, the way in which we chose to celebrate Bob's life is by creating a legacy of healing and safe community; and for that I am proud.
I welcome the opportunity of engaging in further discussion. I can be reached at:
katy@katyhutchisonpresents.com
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"I am then dragged into an arguement presented in Bonokowski's article about Canada's justice system and the granting of pardons to criminals. A discussion I have never spoken about publicly, or privately for that matter. I am, as many of my friends and colleagues would attest, a non-political person. I think it unfair to speculate what my position on such matters would be. " I don't think any speculation is required. Your actions speak volumes. You have a bigger heart than most. I could never, would never, do what you have done. I think the 5 years is a slap in the face of the victims family, whether yours or anyone else's. I f someone hurt my family in that manner, I be crying for the restoration of the death penalty and asking for a front row seat to watch it being carried out.
Again, thank you for presenting your side. It seems the best we can do is agree to disagree.