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Canadian Father Jailed for Murder of His Disabled Daughter.(Robert Latimer)(Brief Article)
A Canadian father who murdered his 12-year-old disabled daughter in a so-called "mercy killing" will spend at least 10 years in jail, according to a January 18 Supreme Court decision. The Canadian high court, in a rare unanimous decision, refused to overturn the country's mandatory sentence for second-degree murder of life imprisonment with no parole for 10 years, rejecting arguments that the prison time constitutes "cruel and unusual punishment."
Tracy Latimer, a 12-year-old little girl with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, died on October 24, 1993, when her father Robert placed her in his truck, connected a hose to the exhaust pipe and put it through the truck's window, and watched while she died.
According to a case summary in the Supreme Court decision, Mr. Latimer initially told the police that Tracy died in her sleep, but he soon confessed to killing her, adding that "he had considered giving Tracy an overdose of Valium or `shooting her in the head.'"
Latimer and his wife, Laura, lived with Tracy and three younger children on a farm in Wilkie, Saskatchewan. Tracy, who suffered neurological damage at birth, underwent numerous operations in her short life, and was scheduled to receive surgery to help relieve pain in a dislocated hip in November.
Although she could not walk or talk, she could recognize family members, play music on a radio using a special button, and communicate "by means of facial expressions, laughter and crying," the Supreme Court decision stated.
Since Tracy's death, Latimer has insisted he acted as a "mercy killer," protecting his daughter from "torture, mutilation, forced feeding just so that some poor little child can survive a few more days," according to the Canadian Press.
However, as the Supreme Court wrote, "the accused had at least one reasonable legal alternative to killing his daughter: he could have struggled on, with what was unquestionably a difficult situation, by helping [Tracy] to live and by minimizing her pain as much as possible or by permitting an institution to do so."
- Ten years minimum; Knowing that everything Robert Latimer said about the child...
- Magazine article from: The Report Newsmagazine Parker, Shafer February 19, 2001 700+ words
...farmer Robert Latimer has argued that...accused the Supreme Court of Canada...punishment. Latimer's dissatisfaction...appealed to the Supreme Court. The highest...justices on the Supreme Court rejected Latimer's attempt...
- Latimer case heard in Canada's Supreme Court.
- News wire article from: United Press International June 15, 2000 700+ words
...June 14 (UPI) The Supreme Court of Canada heard arguments...Saskatchewan farmer Robert Latimer against his mandatory...Saskatchewan court awarded Latimer the mandatory punishment...for 10 years. In the Supreme Court, Latimer's lawyers argued...
- Ten years minimum.(Robert Latimer 's sentence)
- Magazine article from: National Right to Life News Parker, Shafer March 1, 2001 700+ words
...everything Robert Latimer said about the...false, the Supreme Court sent him to...farmer Robert Latimer has argued that...accused the Supreme Court of Canada...justices on the Supreme Court rejected Latimer's attempt...
- Supporters of the disabled should demand Latimer's release
- Magazine article from: Canadian Medical Association. Journal Walker, Ken February 12, 2008 700+ words
...that before the Supreme Court of Canada's 4 wise men and 3 wise women sent Latimer to jail they should...enough decency not to tar Latimer with the same judicial...articles denouncing the Supreme Court of Canada's decision...acknowledge that in Latimer, we are not dealing...
- Robert Latimer: Bait and switch
- Magazine article from: Canadian Medical Association. Journal Koch, Tom January 29, 2008 700+ words
...crime in Canada. To argue Latimer's early release is to insist...overwhelmed caregiver. Only Robert Latimer saw his daughter's state...knew joy and pleasure. The Supreme Court of Canada decision noted that...murder, the court noted. Latimer rejected a feeding tube that...
- Center for Professionalism renamed for Latimer.
- Magazine article from: Florida Bar News April 30, 2005 700+ words
...Solomon Badger, a friend of Latimer's since childhood, presented...for Professionalism after Latimer. Coxe, noting a wide range of lawyers from Supreme Court justices to colleagues...naming The Florida Bar after Latimer, but the committee and...
- Another correct decision in difficult Latimer case
- Newspaper article from: The Brandon Sun Anonymous December 7, 2007 700+ words
...extraordinarily difficult case. Latimer was initially charged...was overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada because the...In his second trial, Latimer was again convicted...that decision and said Latimer must serve the minimum sentence. The Supreme Court later agreed, ...
- End of a long road (for Robert Latimer).
- Magazine article from: LawNow Mitchell, Teresa April 1, 2001 700+ words
...decision of the Supreme Court of Canada ordering...police. Mr. Latimer was convicted...so that Mr. Latimer should receive...sentence? The Supreme Court of Canada was...Cabinet. R. v. Latimer Supreme Court of Canada January...
Source: HighBeam Research, Canadian Father Jailed for Murder of His Disabled Daughter.(Robert...