When Justice Meets Horror
November 21, 2008
It was an act so horrific, so unimaginable, the word “crime” simply doesn’t fit. An innocent man, brutally slaughtered in an apparently unprovoked attack. As Canadians process the immense tragedy, there have been cries for justice. But what does justice look like in the face of such horror?
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Are our current laws enough to deal with horrific crime? Email us
To watch the show and for resources and information on our guests, click "Watch Episode" below. (Broadcast previously aired November 23rd, 2008)
Context22-year-old Tim McLean was homeward bound. He was resting in his seat on a Greyhound bus on the Manitoba prairies, when he was viciously attacked. Stabbed repeatedly, he was beheaded; his body desecrated.
The accused killer, Vincent Li, is undergoing psychiatric evaluations. He has been declared fit to stand trial.
As Canadians process the immense tragedy, there have been cries for justice. But what does justice look like in the face of such horror?
Today we’ll wrestle with that question. As some call out for law reform, we’ll hear from a lawyer who insists our system works. We’ll also hear from two victims of violent crime. One lost a daughter, the other a brother. We’ll learn how the murder of their loved ones shaped their lives, motivating them to become intimately involved with the worst offenders in our justice system.
Guests
Rev. Dr. Pierre Allard
President, International Prison Chaplain’s Association
Wilma Derksen
Author, blogger on victim resilience.
Resources
Justice Canada Monitor
www.justicemonitor.ca
Beheading victim’s mom backs off execution call
By: Mike McIntyre
www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/story/4237716p-4880948c.html
Pierre Allard: pastor discovers new world within prison walls
Corrections Today, by Vanessa St. Gerard
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6399/is_/ai_n29187681
What is Restorative Justice in Canada?
http://mcc.org/canada/restorativejustice/
Confronting the Horror: The Aftermath of Violence
Author, Wilma Derksen
To purchase: www.amazon.com/Confronting-Horror-Aftermath-Wilma-Derksen/dp/0973155701/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227292966&sr=8-1
Have You Seen Candace?
Author, Wilma Derksen
To purchase: www.amazon.com/Have-Seen-Candace-Wilma-Derksen/dp/097315571X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227292966&sr=8-2
The Little Book of Biblical Justice
Author, Dr. Chris Marshall
To purchase: www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Biblical-Justice-Peacebuilding/dp/1561485055/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227293579&sr=1-
LORNA'S WRAP
Seldom do we get to choose what stories will shape our future. Things just happen, and when big enough they have the power to become a narrative, even a meta narrative, over our life. We waited some time before we covered this bus tragedy story because surely I thought, it just was an aberration. So rare, this will just go away. But Tim McLean’s family in their push for Tim’s Law, remind us today that life isn’t like that. Things happen that forever change the story of your life. Our prayers are with them today. That’s why today we looked into the next level of story. What do you do when your life story gets rewritten, without your consent ? What we heard from other victims whose loved ones were murdered is that there is another story to reach for to wrap around injustice that cannot be dismissed. The meta narrative of Jesus. That story is on our web site under our spiritual helps tool and we encourage you to write us with your story, or any questions you may have about making sense to those two stories; your story and the story of Jesus. To narratives that meet, even for the worst of circumstances.
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