Domm unswerving in drive at justice system By CARL NELSON THE GUELPH M ERC URY Gord Domm is as unrepentent as ever .. Domm, th e key stone in the Citizens' Co- alition Favoring Mor e Effective Criminal Sentences , sits atop his apartment building - he lives in a penthouse suite - and con- templ ates the criminal justice system below that he believes with unswerving certainty is failing Canadians. D es pi te a cont empt of co urt conviction an d a $ 4, 0 00 fine (currently under appeal) he is still passionate about his beliefs. Sinc e retirement from the Ontario Provin- cial Poli ce in 1988, Domm has been busy attempting to right wron gs, as he perceives them, fi g ht hi s wa y throu gh court and still stand up for the coa lition. B eca use th e app ea l is in th e written argument stage - th e app ea l will be heard b e- fore justi ces of the On tar io Cou rt of Appea l - Dom m wo n't disc uss detai ls. However , while the details remain before the judicial system, he is v ocal about th e legal system, vi olent crime and punishment, es p ec ially his own. And he remain s defiant. "I'm not sorry at all. " What Domm isn't sorry about is th e mail- ing of prohibited info rmation about Karla Homolka 's sent encing. Homolka is the estranged and imprisoned former wife of Paul Bernado who remains in ja il wa iting tllal in connection with th e murders of two St. Catharin es tee ns and numerous se xu al assault ch ar ges fr om Toronto. Domm's ac t led to two contempt of court charges and $2 , 000 fin es fo r each charge. He has paid $1,000 of the fin e. Th e rest of th e fin e is in limb o pending th e ou tc ome of th e appea l. A nd he vo ws to take it to th e Su - preme Court, if he has to. "That's how co mmitted I am to this issue." Domm 's opinions. he admits afte r some " STILL FIGHTING: Guelph 's Gord Domm continues to fight a criminal ju stice system he believes is failing Canadian s. CARL NELSON The Guelph Mercur y thought, have been colored by his caree r as In the meantime, while th e intense me- a poli ce offi ce r, especially in th e l as t de- dia f oc us appears to have shifted aw ay cade. Dealing with victims and their surv i- fr om Domm, he remains active behind th e vors left him wondering about wh at he de- scenes with his coalition. sc r ibes as the eroding eff ecti ve ness of th e Oth b' th t d . . criminal justi ce sys tem. t er mem ers In 0 er owns an cities have taken up the banner. Domm has had tJ "We've shi fted awa y from the crim e to the distinction of making guest ap- 6 the off end er in se ntencin g," Domm sai d. pearances. Next month in London, Domm 't And that ha s led to more lenient sentenc IS the guest speaker at a $SO-a-r:late banquet ./ in g. held by the Freedom Party. But Domm 's goal is to pro tect society more - by imp osi ng stiff min imum se n- tences for viol ent or gun -related crim es - and get th e cr im inal off th e str ee t. By now, Dom m's view s are well kn ow n. He has ca ptured a lot of headl ines and c on- tinu es to attract attention fr om for eign press including th e London Mirro r. on e of the fir st news papers to print inform ati on learned in th e Hom olka case. "Th ey ' re thinki ng about doin g a story on me," he sa ie! . And he waits for his appeal to be hea rd. "This is a te st case ." Whatever happens, Domm sa id he doesn't have the bitter taste of def eat in his mouth . "I like to think I helped plant the seed that got victims' groups vocal," he said. "M aybe I had gone as far as I could. "I hope that what I have done will bring appropria te changes to bring bac k our proud ju sti ce system. "

Domm unswerving in drive at justice system · Domm unswerving in drive at justice system By CARL NELSON THE GUELPH MERC URY Gord Domm is as unrepentent as ever .. Domm, the keystone

Download PDF Report

Upload
others
View
3
Download
0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Domm unswerving in drive at justice system By CARL NELSON THE GUELPH M ERCURY

Gord Domm is as unrepentent as ever .. Domm, the keystone in the Citizens' Co

alition Favoring More Effective Criminal Sentences, sits atop his apartment building - he lives in a penthouse suite - and contemplates the criminal justice system below that he believes with unswerving certainty is failing Canadians.

Despite a contempt of court conviction and a $4,000 fine (currently under appeal) he is still passionate about his beliefs. Since retirement from the Ontario Provincial Police in 1988, Domm has been busy attempting to right wrongs, as he perceives them, fi ght his way through court and still stand up for the coalition.

Because the appeal is in the written argument stage - the appeal will be heard before justices of the Ontar io Court of Appeal - Domm won't discuss detai ls.

However, while the details remain before the judicial system, he is vocal about the legal system, violent crime and punishment, especially his own.

And he remains defiant. "I'm not sorry at all. " What Domm isn't sorry about is the mail

ing of prohibited information about Karla Homolka's sentencing. Homolka is the estranged and imprisoned former wife of Paul Bernado who remains in jail wa iting tllal in connection with the murders of two St. Catharines teens and numerous sexual assault charges from Toronto.

Domm's act led to two contempt of court charges and $2,000 fines for each charge.

He has paid $1,000 of the fine. The rest of the fine is in limbo pending the outcome of the appeal. And he vows to take it to the Supreme Court, if he has to.

"That's how committed I am to this issue."

Domm's opinions. he admits afte r some

STILL FIGHTING: Guelph 's Gord Domm continues to fight a criminal justice system he believes is failing Canadians.

CARL NELSON The Guelph Mercury

thought, have been colored by his career as In the meantime, while the intense mea police officer, especially in the last de- dia focus appears to have shifted away cade. Dealing with victims and their survi- from Domm, he remains active behind the vors left him wondering about what he de- scenes with his coalition. scribes as the eroding effectiveness of the Oth b' th t d . . criminal justice system. t er mem ers In 0 er owns an cities ~

have taken up the banner. Domm has had tJ "We've shi fted away from the crime to the distinction of making guest ap- 6

the offender in sentencing," Domm said. pearances. Next month in London, Domm 't And that has led to more lenient sentenc IS the guest speaker at a $SO-a-r:late banquet ./

ing. held by the Freedom Party.

But Domm's goal is to protect society more - by imposing stiff min imum sentences for violent or gun-related crimes -and get the crim inal off the street.

By now, Domm's views are well known. He has captured a lot of headl ines and continues to attract attention from foreign press including the London Mirror. one of the first newspapers to print information learned in the Homolka case.

"They 're thinki ng about doing a story on me," he sa ie! .

And he waits for his appeal to be heard. "This is a test case."

Whatever happ ens, Domm sa id he doesn't have the bitter taste of defeat in his mouth.

"I like to think I helped plant the seed that got victims' groups vocal," he said. "Maybe I had gone as far as I could.

"I hope that what I have done will bring appropriate changes to bring back our proud justi ce system. "