Kachkar & Russell both victims

Re: How Much Deference For Victims?, Christie Blatchford, April 27.

Richard Kachkar didn’t premeditate his actions and directly personally target Sgt. Ryan Russell or his family. The Russell camp — in stark ironic contrast — are just exactly so responsible for their deliberate campaign not only against Mr. Kachkar but all those with mental illness.

Widow Christine Russell has vowed to seek changes to laws governing those found not criminally responsible, that would remove protection currently in place for those who are mentally ill (or otherwise cognitively impaired). Moreover, she wishes that provisions be included to preclude release, if even the smallest possibility exists for a compromising relapse and subsequent danger to others.

There is no such guarantee even outside of cases involving mental illness. Moreover, ours is an inclusive society, that considers the well-being and rights of all of us. We do not operate as Spartans did and cull our less than ideal members, and we are thereby responsible collectively for them. What we gain is our humanity, which purportedly is of value above the foundation of our animal instincts.

The Russells are undeniably tragic victims here, but equally so is Mr. Kachkar. Ms. Russell should dedicate herself to understanding mental illness and realize the full true scope of this tragedy, so she can grieve not only the loss of her husband but her apparent notions of ordered control in this world for whom no one but apparently its creator is responsible for. Then perhaps she can move on in some semblance of peace not withstanding her loss.

Dr. Avery Hurtig, psychiatrist, Toronto.

The comments made by the Russell family speak to a lack of understanding and empathy for those with serious mental illness. There was no more volition, intent or freewill on the part of Richard Kachkar to kill Sgt. Russell than a truck driver who rams into a school bus killing 10 children because of a heart attack. The parents of those children will suffer, too, like the Russell family, but they will not blame the driver nor will they demand that he receive a jail sentence, or that he never be released.

The Russells needs to focus their outrage on the health-care and justice systems, as well as all the bystanders. He had exhibited odd behaviour days before the event. Did anyone call the police who could have taken Mr. Kachkar into the emergency room of any hospital? Did anyone call a 24-hour mental health crisis centre? Bystanders watched from a distance or turned their back or crossed the street to avoid him and his odd behaviour. Had he been in the midst of a heart attack, there would have been many heroes.

This gross misunderstanding of mental illness is one of the reasons so many keep their mental illness — or fear of having a mental illness — a secret. Who wants to face the possibility of dealing with the same contempt that the Russell family threw onto Mr. Kachkar.

Diane Weber Bederman, Caledon, Ont.