‘ I didn’t lie to them, I just didn’t tell them’

Fisher defends evasive answers at inquiry into Milgaard case

SASKATOON • Convicted killer and serial rapist Larry Fisher sparred with David Milgaard’s lawyer yesterday at the inquiry into how Mr. Milgaard was wrongfully convicted of Fisher’s crime.

“I’m not going to get technical about dates,” Fisher said irritably as Hersh Wolch quizzed him on why, when questioned by Saskatoon police in Winnipeg in 1970, he admitted committing two sexual assaults in Saskatoon but denied two others.

Fisher maintained he never lied because he eventually pleaded guilty to all four offences.

“I’m not going to get into little psychological games,” Fisher said dismissively.

“I didn’t lie to them. I just didn’t tell them,” he insisted.

Mr. Wolch then focused on the unexpectedly lenient sentence Fisher recieved when he pleaded guilty in Regina to the Saskatoon offences.

Fisher received no additioinal time beyond the 13 years he was already serving for two rapes in Winnipeg.

At sentencing in Regina on the Saskatoon offences, Fisher was given four years on each of the three rapes and six months on the attempted rape, but all were to be served concurrent to the Winnipeg term.

“ The Crown was asking for no time,” Mr. Wolch said, seeking an explanation.

Fisher said he didn’t know why he received the light sentence.

“I could have expected a life bid on any of them,” Fisher said.

“That was thanks to them sending me to Regina,” he said.

Mr. Wolch also pressed Fisher for his movements on the morning he raped and murdered nursing assistant Gail Miller.

Mr. Wolch suggested Fisher borrowed his wife’s uncle’s car and parked outside Ms. Miller’s rooming house.

When Ms. Miller set out walking to the bus stop one block away, Fisher moved the car to a nearby alley, then grabbed his victim and dragged her to the car, where he had her undress to the waist, then covered her face with her sweater and raped her on her coat, Mr. Wolch suggested.

Ms. Miller was leaving with her coat, but not her dress, back on, when she saw Fisher’s face, Mr. Wolch suggested.

“ That’s why you killed her. She knew you as the guy from the bus,” Mr. Wolch said.

“She saw. You chased. You stabbed,” Mr. Wolch insisted.

“No. I’m just saying I didn’t do it,” Fisher said.

Mr. Wolch asked Fisher whether he had any remorse for killing Ms. Miller.

“ Why should I have those feelings of remorse when I didn’t do it?” he said.

The inquiry was called after Mr. Milgaard’s conviction was overturned based on DNA evidence that convicted Fisher, 56.

Mr. Milgaard spent 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

Fisher returns to the stand today.

CanWest News Service