ST. JOHN'S - Unanimous approval from the House of Commons justice committee has David Bagby optimistic about achieving the bail reform he has sought since his grandson Zachary was killed in 2003.
Zachary was murdered by Shirley Turner, the accused killer of Bagby's son Andrew, in the waters off Conception Bay South in 2003.
Turner was awaiting extradition to the U.S. to stand trial for Andrew's murder at the time, but was out on bail and had custody of Zachary.
In Ottawa Monday, Bagby and wife Kate, along with Avalon MP Scott Andrews and reps from the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, addressed and answered questions from the Commons' justice committee on Bill C-464.
Proposed as a private member's bill by Andrews in October, it seeks to give courts the power to justify refusing bail to people accused of serious crimes in name of protecting their children.
Before the committee supported the proposed law Tuesday, they amended it to ensure children meant those under age 18.
The change was made to ensure clarity throughout the Criminal Code of Canada, Andrews explained.
With the justice committee's thumbs up, the bill now goes before the House of Commons for a third reading.
If MPs support it, the draft legislation will head to the Senate, where Tommy Banks - a Liberal senator from Alberta - will attempt to help garner support to give it royal assent. That would make it law.
The Telegram
Bagby's bill gets third reading
- Published on March 17th, 2010
- Published on July 2nd, 2010
-
Steve Bartlett
The Telegram
Unanimous approval from the House of Commons justice committee has David Bagby optimistic about achieving the bail reform he has sought since his grandson Zachary was killed in 2003.
Zachary was murdered by Shirley Turner, the accused killer of Bagby's son Andrew, in the waters off Conception Bay South in 2003.
- Number of views : 739
- Rate
- Top of the page
