Canada

Homolka Could Walk Today

Kelly Hayes - Jun 30, 2005 / 7:25 am | Story: 10437

Convicted killer Karla Homolka could walk out of prison Thursday, 12 years after being convicted for her role in the rape and murder of two Ontario teenagers. Homolka, who is currently being held in Quebec's Ste-Anne-des-Plaines maximum security prison, could be released sometime between June 30 and July 5. Full story
An historic church in eastern New Brunswick burned to the ground Wednesday afternoon after being struck by lightning. Fire departments from more than two dozen surrounding communities responded to the fire at the 138-year-old Sainte-Anne-de-Kent church, but they couldn't save the wooden structure. Members of the village volunteer fire department were driving near the church when they saw a bolt of lightning strike the steeple shortly before 4 p.m. A big thunderstorm had rolled into the area in the mid-afternoon. Full story
The mother of a 16-year-old boy who plunged down an elevator shaft to his death last year says she's satisfied with the testimony given by 22 witnesses over 4½ weeks of hearings. "I'm very confident that some good results are going to come from this," Lorena Young, the mother of Kyle Young, said after the fatality inquiry into his death wrapped up Wednesday. "To be quite honest, I'm not a real important person in this world. I don't have a lot of clout. Full story
An intricate RCMP sting operation helped convict a Manitoba man of first-degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend, whom he buried in an elderly woman's grave. Jurors in the trial of Michael Bridges deliberated for less than seven hours to reach the verdict Wednesday night. The 25-year-old will spend 25 years in prison with no chance for parole. Full story
Fallout from the debate over same-sex marriage has led to two separate attacks on gay men over the past 10 days, say members of Edmonton's gay community. The city's police hate crimes unit is investigating the attacks, which occurred during Pride Week. Police say physical assaults against gays aren't common in the city. Murray Billet, a leader in Edmonton's gay community, said politicians openly opposing same-sex rights filters down to the public. Full story
A southern Alberta man is missing and presumed drowned east of Okotoks. The Calgary Herald reports that rescue crews spent Wednesday evening searching the Sheep River for a man swept downstream while working at the flooded Wilderness RV Resort. He and two others had been working with a backhoe early Wednesday evening, when the machine suddenly collapsed into a sinkhole. Full story
An autopsy has found three members of the same family found dead in their London, Ont. home earlier this week were stabbed multiple times. The bodies of 37-year-old Halina Czuba, her five-year-old son Michal and 13-year-old daughter Julia were discovered in their home early Monday morning. There was speculation earlier that they had been shot to death after neighbours reported hearing gunfire in the quiet neighbourhood about 110 km west of Toronto. Full story
Alberta's justice minister is refusing to concede defeat in the province's battle against same-sex marriage. Ron Stevens said Wednesday that the province is considering going to court to challenge Bill C-38 -- the legislation passed Wednesday night in Ottawa allowing gay marriages in Canada. But while he talks of putting up one last fight, Stevens concedes that his efforts would bear little fruit because the federal legislation, when it becomes law, would take precedence over Alberta's Marriage Act. Full story
Japanese-based automaker Toyota is expected to put an end to the rumours today, with the official announcement of plans to build a new plant in Canada. Toyota is expected to reveal plans Thursday, to build its seventh North American manufacturing facility near Woodstock in southwestern Ontario. Full story