Canadian maniac had his sentence commuted

Canadians who lived through the 1980s and 1990s in this country fear for the lives of their children and grandchildren again. Commentators on the Internet recall the psychological trauma they suffered then and how it affected their lives. Mothers and fathers write how they swore to themselves never to leave their daughters unsupervised. Teachers recall why child safety became their top priority.

All these people condemn the decision of the Correctional Service of Canada to transfer Paul Bernardo to a regular prison from a super-secure one. The man, now 58 years old, is the most notorious serial killer in Canadian history. Between 1980 and 1990, he committed a series of horrific crimes — he raped, tortured and murdered his victims. Canadians were shocked that his wife, Carla Homolka, assisted him in this.

They were caught only after the pair kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered Kristen French, 15, and Leslie Mahaffey, 14. They videotaped their atrocities, which helped justice finally be done. They later confessed to dozens more rapes and murders in cities around the country. Carla Homolka even helped her husband abuse her younger sister, Tammy. Shortly thereafter, the unfortunate girl died.

Their cruelty stunned Canadians and the world. Canada is seriously committed to the safety of children, so that the horror of the past will never be repeated. Bernardo and Homolka were convicted. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and she to 12 years in prison. Homolka has already served her sentence and is terrifying the people of Quebec, where she lives with her new husband and children. People in the province have long been asking the authorities to isolate this frightening woman from society, but they can't do it. She has served her sentence and can now live wherever she wants.

On June 3 of this year, Paul Bernardo was transferred to a regular prison. He had previously been held in a maximum security supermaximum security prison. The Correctional Service did not explain its decision. Canadians from all over the country are demanding that the monster be returned to close supervision. Many of them have been pushing for his death penalty for decades. Most of all, people fear that Bernardo will manage to escape and start killing children all over again. There is reason for this fear — the maniac has already tried to escape, and not so long ago a shiv was found in his cell.

Even Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Security, reacted to the situation. He supports the demands of the inhabitants of the country and fully shares their fears.

"We are mentally with the families of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffey and all those affected by these horrific crimes. We support them and all Canadians who are rightly shocked by this move," he said.