Canada - Brenda Walker, 49, found slain after calling 911, Strathmore, AB, 7 Jan 2015

[LoisLane]

Here is the law - I took out a couple sections where this case wouldn't be relevant:

Classification of murder

231.*(1)*Murder is first degree murder or second degree murder.

Planned and deliberate murder

(2)*Murder is first degree murder when it is planned and deliberate.

Contracted murder

(3)*Without limiting the generality of subsection (2), murder is planned and deliberate when it is committed pursuant to an arrangement under which money or anything of value passes or is intended to pass from one person to another, or is promised by one person to another, as consideration for that other’s causing or assisting in causing the death of anyone or counselling another person to do any act causing or assisting in causing that death.

Hijacking, sexual assault or kidnapping

(5)*Irrespective of whether a murder is planned and deliberate on the part of any person, murder is first degree murder in respect of a person when the death is caused by that person while committing or attempting to commit an offence under one of the following sections:

(a)*section 76 (hijacking an aircraft);

(b)*section 271 (sexual assault);

(c)*section 272 (sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party or causing bodily harm);

(d)*section 273 (aggravated sexual assault);

(e)*section 279 (kidnapping and forcible confinement); or

(f)*section 279.1 (hostage taking).

Criminal harassment

(6)*Irrespective of whether a murder is planned and deliberate on the part of any person, murder is first degree murder when the death is caused by that person while committing or attempting to commit an offence under section 264 and the person committing that offence intended to cause the person murdered to fear for the safety of the person murdered or the safety of anyone known to the person murdered

Intimidation

(6.2)*Irrespective of whether a murder is planned and deliberate on the part of a person, murder is first degree murder when the death is caused by that person while committing or attempting to commit an offence under section 423.1.

Second degree murder

(7)*All murder that is not first degree murder is second degree murder.

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-231.html

As you can see, the first degree charges may be as a result of a few possibilities.

Thanks News! Do I have this right? First degree does not have to mean he planned to murder her by making a plan of doing so but that if he was in arguments whether it be about finances or a recent love quarrel (that is documented on her blog) or they were recently separated and had any financial ties that it can automatically be considered first degree?

 

[news.talk]

Thanks News! Do I have this right? First degree does not have to mean he planned to murder her by making a plan of doing so but that if he was in arguments whether it be about finances or a recent love quarrel (that is documented on her blog) or they were recently separated and had any financial ties that it can automatically be considered first degree?

In my opinion, first degree charges could mean any of the following scenarios:

1. He planned it out ahead of time. The Crown would need to show that he perhaps got a weapon solely for this murder, has cache history on his computer showing intent such as how to kill and not get caught, dispose of a body, etc. Computer history, even when cleared stays on the server. This is where many 1st degree homicides get traction. Any evidence showing he formed intent and carried it out.

2. He held her against her will prior to the homicide. He may have threatened her or a loved one in the process.

3. There is evidence of sexual assault.

4. They have evidence he hired someone or attempted to hire someone to commit the murder.

5. They have evidence that he was harassing her for a period prior to the homicide and she may have taken steps to start a protection order for example. They may have voicemail recordings where he threatened her life for another example.

IMO, whether they had financial ties or arguments have no bearing on the case. The charge for 1st degree homicide has to fall into one of those categories. They would need evidence that he had threatened to kill her during one of those arguments and subsequently did.

ETA: The law states that if any of the examples from #2-5 were present, it does not matter if there was pre-intent. The 1st degree charge is applicable.

 

[LoisLane]

In my opinion, first degree charges could mean any of the following scenarios:

1. He planned it out ahead of time. The Crown would need to show that he perhaps got a weapon solely for this murder, has cache history on his computer showing intent such as how to kill and not get caught, dispose of a body, etc. Computer history, even when cleared stays on the server. This is where many 1st degree homicides get traction. Any evidence showing he formed intent and carried it out.

2. He held her against her will prior to the homicide. He may have threatened her or a loved one in the process.

3. There is evidence of sexual assault.

4. They have evidence he hired someone or attempted to hire someone to commit the murder.

5. They have evidence that he was harassing her for a period prior to the homicide and she may have taken steps to start a protection order for example. They may have voicemail recordings where he threatened her life for another example.

IMO, whether they had financial ties or arguments have no bearing on the case. The charge for 1st degree homicide has to fall into one of those categories. They would need evidence that he had threatened to kill her during one of those arguments and subsequently did.

ETA: The law states that if any of the examples from #2-5 were present, it does not matter if there was pre-intent. The 1st degree charge is applicable.

Thanks for clarifying. I always thought first-degree was only example #1. I could see #2-5 playing into this very easily.

I also can't help but think of disfunctional break-ups and relationships where one or both manipulates and that includes head games of trying to resolve the relationship including sexual hook-ups. Clearly they hadn't severed ties as BW was caring for GR while he was hospitalized and he lived on the same block as her.

What if they were having one of those moments that included consensual sex and soon after the situation escalated. Would that also fall under first-degree?

 

[news.talk]

Thanks for clarifying. I always thought first-degree was only example #1. I could see #2-5 playing into this very easily.

I also can't help but think of disfunctional break-ups and relationships where one or both manipulates and that includes head games of trying to resolve the relationship including sexual hook-ups. Clearly they hadn't severed ties as BW was caring for GR while he was hospitalized and he lived on the same block as her.

What if they were having one of those moments that included consensual sex and soon after the situation escalated. Would that also fall under first-degree?

If the intimacy was consensual, then unless they were into some pretty hard play, it would be hard to determine sexual assault. To be 1st degree, she would have had to be sexually assaulted.

I guess I am having a hard time grappling with a possible suicide set-up scenario. She seemed to focus on the future in every social-media posting and blog. I know, I know... It could be a front, but she would have to be pretty devious to pull it off.

I think it could be as simple as forcible confinement or criminal harassment. Unless of course they found something at his home like computer records to show pre-intent.

Relationships can be messy.

 

[LoisLane]

If the intimacy was consensual, then unless they were into some pretty hard play, it would be hard to determine sexual assault. To be 1st degree, she would have had to be sexually assaulted.

I guess I am having a hard time grappling with a possible suicide set-up scenario. She seemed to focus on the future in every social-media posting and blog. I know, I know... It could be a front, but she would have to be pretty devious to pull it off.

I think it could be as simple as forcible confinement or criminal harassment. Unless of course they found something at his home like computer records to show pre-intent.

Relationships can be messy.

I don't think if it was suicide that it would necessarily be as a set-up but that he arrived and it could have been too late and he feared it would appear to be murder and so he fled.

As for the many inspirational quotes on her facebook especially the dozens that she posted in one day... If my friends (who a lot are positive, outgoing, spiritual types) posted those style quotes in such an over-done manner I would be extremely worried that something was wrong and that they were not in a good head space and were trying to self soothe. Depending on the person, I would suspect that they may harm themselves or someone else. Not that I am firm that this is what happened here.

Relationships are very messy. It is always unsettling to hear of break-ups that are still so involved with one another. Especially when emotions are high and one never knows how much the other can take or what will set them off. Or even that one would even expect the other to lose self-control and resort to violence. It is especially difficult when there is no distance, or they are living in the same home still, financial responsibilities, children, etc. One can't just pick up and move far away and start over so easily.

 

[news.talk]

I don't think if it was suicide that it would necessarily be as a set-up but that he arrived and it could have been too late and he feared it would appear to be murder and so he fled.

As for the many inspirational quotes on her facebook especially the dozens that she posted in one day... If my friends (who a lot are positive, outgoing, spiritual types) posted those style quotes in such an over-done manner I would be extremely worried that something was wrong and that they were not in a good head space and were trying to self soothe. Depending on the person, I would suspect that they may harm themselves or someone else. Not that I am firm that this is what happened here.

Relationships are very messy. It is always unsettling to hear of break-ups that are still so involved with one another. Especially when emotions are high and one never knows how much the other can take or what will set them off. Or even that one would even expect the other to lose self-control and resort to violence. It is especially difficult when there is no distance, or they are living in the same home still, financial responsibilities, children, etc. One can't just pick up and move far away and start over so easily.

What has always bugged me about our system, is that the "investigation is above the public's right to know..." I get why this is the case but for nosey people like myself, it has always been a hindrance.

They probably won't release the manner of death until the trial which as we know from other cases, could be a couple years from now. We have no idea if she was stabbed, bludgeoned, shot... We may get an inkling from appearances, but it will be a very long time until we can properly analyze and discuss the case. While I am not a huge fan of trial by media as they do in the U.S. I would like a happy middle. A suspect can sit in Remand for a VERY long time without anyone the wiser as to why he or she is there.

The suspect in this case is in court on the 20th in Strathmore Provincial Court. I doubt it will clear up any of these questions.

 

[news.talk]

I don't think if it was suicide that it would necessarily be as a set-up but that he arrived and it could have been too late and he feared it would appear to be murder and so he fled.

As for the many inspirational quotes on her facebook especially the dozens that she posted in one day... If my friends (who a lot are positive, outgoing, spiritual types) posted those style quotes in such an over-done manner I would be extremely worried that something was wrong and that they were not in a good head space and were trying to self soothe. Depending on the person, I would suspect that they may harm themselves or someone else. Not that I am firm that this is what happened here.

Relationships are very messy. It is always unsettling to hear of break-ups that are still so involved with one another. Especially when emotions are high and one never knows how much the other can take or what will set them off. Or even that one would even expect the other to lose self-control and resort to violence. It is especially difficult when there is no distance, or they are living in the same home still, financial responsibilities, children, etc. One can't just pick up and move far away and start over so easily.

Even if he was there and fled, that wouldn't constitute a first degree charge. They need one of those sections in the criminal code to cover the charge and evidence to support it.

If anything, the scenario you mentioned could suggest a second degree charge but not a first. That's what has be perplexed in this case. There is nothing in her VERY revealing blog that suggests he is a murderer in waiting. I know... It's hard to tell, but a crime of passion, i.e. second degree charge I can buy but a first? Something is off.

 

[LoisLane]

What has always bugged me about our system, is that the "investigation is above the public's right to know..." I get why this is the case but for nosey people like myself, it has always been a hindrance.

They probably won't release the manner of death until the trial which as we know from other cases, could be a couple years from now. We have no idea if she was stabbed, bludgeoned, shot... We may get an inkling from appearances, but it will be a very long time until we can properly analyze and discuss the case. While I am not a huge fan of trial by media as they do in the U.S. I would like a happy middle. A suspect can sit in Remand for a VERY long time without anyone the wiser as to why he or she is there.

The suspect in this case is in court on the 20th in Strathmore Provincial Court. I doubt it will clear up any of these questions.

It is very confusing to me how a person's autopsy can be confirmed to the public when a suspect hasn't been charged but if a suspect has been charged they would not release the cause of death. There was another story I skimmed today where officers shot and killed an armed suspect and that person's autopsy was confirmed that he was killed by gunshot. It makes no sense to me. I do not see how the case is jeopardized by releasing cause of death. Maybe if more information was available it would hinder some from committing crime or realize it is not always a simple manner of cause of death and that transparency could actually scare some out of the idea that they may actually get away with it... If that makes sense.

 

[LayzeeDayzee]

But he was charged with 1st degree murder. This charge indicates LE found evidence of premeditation and the murder being pre-planned. Often in cases of domestic violence the charge is a lesser one (2nd or 3rd degree, or manslaughter)......so it says to me that there must be pretty hard evidence that LE gathered and took before the Crown to have such a charge be registered, IMO.

I still think this theory could work as you put above but maybe BW called 911 and told them GR was there and she feared for her life, so he fled either when he heard that or she told him what she did before killing herself. If she had done it with him right beside her, he could have the residue on him.

I would love to hear his side of the story, it really does seem like we are missing a huge chunk.

 

[news.talk]

It is very confusing to me how a person's autopsy can be confirmed to the public when a suspect hasn't been charged but if a suspect has been charged they would not release the cause of death. There was another story I skimmed today where officers shot and killed an armed suspect and that person's autopsy was confirmed that he was killed by gunshot. It makes no sense to me. I do not see how the case is jeopardized by releasing cause of death. Maybe if more information was available it would hinder some from committing crime or realize it is not always a simple manner of cause of death and that transparency could actually scare some out of the idea that they may actually get away with it... If that makes sense.

You make perfect sense. I have never understood it either and I have seen many cases in court. I have had a front row seat to the investigation process and STILL it doesn't make sense. At the very least, they should be able to reveal cause of death and while obviously not the evidence behind the charges but the section and subsection the suspect is charged should be made public IMO. I can't personally see how that hinders the rights of the accused but it is possible that there is a very good legal reason under Canadian Law. I have yet to find it though.

 

[news.talk]

But he was charged with 1st degree murder. This charge indicates LE found evidence of premeditation and the murder being pre-planned. Often in cases of domestic violence the charge is a lesser one (2nd or 3rd degree, or manslaughter)......so it says to me that there must be pretty hard evidence that LE gathered and took before the Crown to have such a charge be registered, IMO.

Like I said above and laid out with the Criminal Code and subsections - A first degree charge doesn't necessarily mean pre-intent. It could fall in any of the other subsections like forcible confinement or criminal harassment.

 

[LoisLane]

Glenn Randall is scheduled to appear in Stratmore Court today. I hope there is coverage.

http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/first-degree-murder-charge-laid-in-death-of-strathmore-woman-1.2177383

 

[LayzeeDayzee]

I've emailed someone who was a previous coworker of Brenda's, to see if she's heard of anything re: yesterday's court appearance, to see if she happened to attend (not even sure tho if public could attend?), if she knows how he plead, where things stand. Will post back here once I get more info. Really surprised I can't find any MSM media update on how court went. Crazy how cases get so much media attention, this one pretty much nothing since it occurred. Her autopsy had been scheduled for the Wed following her death but have not read any info out outcome of same, curious to know cause of death. Murder of women due to domestic violence needs to be out there in the media, to raise awareness.

 

[LoisLane]

I've emailed someone who was a previous coworker of Brenda's, to see if she's heard of anything re: yesterday's court appearance, to see if she happened to attend (not even sure tho if public could attend?), if she knows how he plead, where things stand. Will post back here once I get more info. Really surprised I can't find any MSM media update on how court went. Crazy how cases get so much media attention, this one pretty much nothing since it occurred. Her autopsy had been scheduled for the Wed following her death but have not read any info out outcome of same, curious to know cause of death. Murder of women due to domestic violence needs to be out there in the media, to raise awareness.

I completely agree. I hope because it is Strathmore the local paper will have something this week. I am really curious how the first court appearance went. Thanks for looking into it!

 

[LoisLane]

http://www.strathmorestandard.com/2015/01/14/local-community-comes-together-to-mourn-friend
"The following week, RCMP received the 911 call, and Walker’s body was found in her home moments later. Residents watched in shock as yellow tape roped off the building, and the Major Crimes and Forensic Identification units showed up.

That same day, Randall was arrested without incident. Police also found no previous record of domestic violence between the two.

“I think the reason why it’s such a huge shock for everyone in town is that Glenn is the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it, Glenn would be the kind of guy to come running over the you if you had a flat tire,” said Ratson. “Glenn was a really gentle soul so the town was absolutely in shock when this happened, because he was friends with a lot of people.”

 

[LoisLane]

http://www.strathmoretimes.com/576-...ore-times/4959-friends-remember-murder-victim
"Walker was found in her Strathmore home Jan. 6 by Strathmore RCMP shortly after a 911 call was received by the detachment. Later that afternoon Randall was taken into custody without incident."

After reading testimonials of GR (in the above articles). I can't help but wonder if he would give up his freedom to protect someone else.

 

[news.talk]

http://www.strathmoretimes.com/576-...ore-times/4959-friends-remember-murder-victim
"Walker was found in her Strathmore home Jan. 6 by Strathmore RCMP shortly after a 911 call was received by the detachment. Later that afternoon Randall was taken into custody without incident."

After reading testimonials of GR (in the above articles). I can't help but wonder if he would give up his freedom to protect someone else.

I was wondering if he confessed?

 

[LayzeeDayzee]

I heard back from the former coworker, and she's heard nothing about outcome of him scheduled to have appeared in court on Jan 20th (or if that even went ahead as previously scheduled). Very strange, why wasn't there any update in the media? Don't reporters give a damn about a woman who allegedly died in her home as the victim of domestic violence? This really pisses me off. I'm at a loss as to why other local domestic violence cases get so much media coverage and following, but this one doesn't. If for no reason than Strathmore is a rather sleepy little town and this kind of thing is pretty catastrophic and horrendous.

As to GR being so highly regarded and helpful/kind by those who knew him..........well, IMO that doesn't necessarily mean diddly. Many abusive men have a total Jeykll and Hyde type persona/personality......to the world they are the greatest/nicest/funniest/friendliest/most generous guy...but a completely different person behind closed doors, and/or if rejected (relationship). So based on this I wouldn't necessarily put much stock in how those who knew him would describe him as such a great guy.

As to whether he was possibly covering for someone/taking the rap for someone else who is responsible for her death........I guess that's possible. Obviously then, his ex would be the first person that would come to mind.....as she is the one that BW had such issues with as explained in her personal blog........his ex who was constantly contacting him (texts, phone calls, her adult children continuing to contact him/him lending them money) and him continuing to remain in contact.........which according to BW's blog seems to be the #1 bone of contention in their relationship to the extent that she ended the relationship due to his alleged inability to maintain boundaries. Maybe the ex read the blog and was outraged.....didn't want BW in the picture any longer, wanted to get back with GR?

 

[news.talk]

I heard back from the former coworker, and she's heard nothing about outcome of him scheduled to have appeared in court on Jan 20th (or if that even went ahead as previously scheduled). Very strange, why wasn't there any update in the media? Don't reporters give a damn about a woman who allegedly died in her home as the victim of domestic violence? This really pisses me off. I'm at a loss as to why other local domestic violence cases get so much media coverage and following, but this one doesn't. If for no reason than Strathmore is a rather sleepy little town and this kind of thing is pretty catastrophic and horrendous.

As to GR being so highly regarded and helpful/kind by those who knew him..........well, IMO that doesn't necessarily mean diddly. Many abusive men have a total Jeykll and Hyde type persona/personality......to the world they are the greatest/nicest/funniest/friendliest/most generous guy...but a completely different person behind closed doors, and/or if rejected (relationship). So based on this I wouldn't necessarily put much stock in how those who knew him would describe him as such a great guy.

As to whether he was possibly covering for someone/taking the rap for someone else who is responsible for her death........I guess that's possible. Obviously then, his ex would be the first person that would come to mind.....as she is the one that BW had such issues with as explained in her personal blog........his ex who was constantly contacting him (texts, phone calls, her adult children continuing to contact him/him lending them money) and him continuing to remain in contact.........which according to BW's blog seems to be the #1 bone of contention in their relationship to the extent that she ended the relationship due to his alleged inability to maintain boundaries. Maybe the ex read the blog and was outraged.....didn't want BW in the picture any longer, wanted to get back with GR?

My guess is that the court appearance was a null event or was postponed.

 

[LayzeeDayzee]

I posted on a local Strathmore community group to ask about outcome of Jan 20th court appearance, someone quoted an excerpt from a local paper there, printed today, indicating that GR's 1st court appearance postponed to Feb 17 to give him time to attain legal representation. On Feb 17th he'll appear in court via CCTV (though the news article states GR allegedly did offer to appear in person). I'm unable to post a link to this excerpt as I can't seem to access the online version of the Strathmore Standard newspaper, I'm only going by what a member of that group copied.