Resources wasted on Bernardo hearing

Re Face it, schoolgirl-killer Paul Bernardo will probably be free one day, Oct. 18

Once again, we are wasting valuable public resources on a hearing for a man who should never, under any circumstances, be considered for release into society at large.

Given Paul Bernardo’s designation as a dangerous offfender, when will we learn?

Here is a man who brutalized and murdered three young women; surely we should never consider releasing him ever again into the general population.

Moreover, why are we subjecting the families of his victims to the agony of these useless parole hearings?

Have they not suffered enough without being forced to endure such travesties?

Let’s remember that the legal system already gave his former wife and confidante, Karla Homolka, nothing more than a legal slap on the wrist for her part in these horrendous crimes and then, unbelievably, allowed her to bear children of her own. Are we mad? Paul Bernardo sealed his own fate and must remain behind bars for the rest of his miserable life.

Meanwhile, better by far for the public at large that we be better safe than sorry!

Eric Balkind, Gore Bay, Ont. Ms. DiManno does no one a service when writing such inflammatory, uninformed speculation.

The Parole Board of Canada is very good at saying “no,” and they have long memories. Offenders regularly die in prison of old age because they have never met the criteria for safe release.

I witnessed one parole hearing where a 75year-old historic sex offender who was terminally ill with cancer was denied day parole, even with a structured release plan.

Seniors’ residences in the community are already overcrowded, and very few are willing to admit persons on parole; halfway houses for parolees are usually not structured or staffed to accommodate people with geriatric medical needs.

Please do your readers a favour and provide them with facts. Mary E. Campbell, Ottawa Take him out of protective custody and see how long he lasts.

Richard Kadziewicz, Scarborough