General Discussion and Theories

[Snoofo]

This early article claims DM graduated school.

May 12, 2013 - Bosma suspect profile: Dellen Millard
In addition to flying, the Toronto French School graduate took up off-road racing in his 20s — road tripping to Mexico with friends in 2011 for the famous Baja 500 desert race.

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/2873832-bosma-suspect-profile-dellen-millard/

Interesting points I highlighted from this article. Madeline became Corporate Officer of Millardair after WM's death. Seems although WM was frugal, DM had no problem sharing his wealth with friends. Maybe DM was serious when he tweeted he was either going to sleep or do heroin. It is MOO DM was involved with drugs. What I find telling is how SL said when he met with DM to discuss LB's whereabouts, DM said she had called him looking for heroin and a place to stay. What reason would SL have to lie to police about in this case? Yes I guess it's a possibility but why would he

It was cocaine not heroine.

http://www.cp24.com/police-probe-link-between-bosma-suspect-missing-woman-1.1286890

 

[Alethea Dice]

I don't dislike DP however I haven't followed many murder cases in order to compare him to others. He does however seem to compare well to the grandstanding attorneys south of our border, and Johnnie Cochran does come to mind. In that sense I suppose all the extra talk, allowing himself to be profiled in MSM like a celebrity, doesn't necessarily lose him cases. But I was a little turned off my this bit of self-marketing. I guess he can take the opportunity to be memorable. It is free advertising for him but at the expense of his client in his first real high profile being taken less seriously.

I'm not a fan so far and don't like his self-promotion at all. I do remember his previous cases, but didn't pay much attention to them and had no idea he was the lawyer. (Maybe that's why he's taking the opportunity to advertise so much this time.) However, I think he has a point here:

He says he feels "duty-bound" to "get his client's message out" before the trial because the public needs to be reminded "not to rush to judgment. Let's just step back and wait for the full process."

He also believes he has a better chance of landing an unbiased jury if some counterbalancing information is made public when initial charges being laid.

"If you are holding back sending a message out there, it's not really going to help your client," said the lawyer, who is known for using PowerPoint presentations and other software to make his arguments to juries.

All the public ever hears about is what makes the accused look bad. The press goes looking for people who will say the not so nice things. The ones who comment favourably barely get a mention and are mostly forgotten or ignored. Once that's done, everything goes silent, thereby preventing the public from hearing anything that may not quite add up or may not quite match what is suspected or proposed to have happened. It's almost like there is a need to convince the public immediately of the suspect's guilt. When really, the only people who need convinced will be the jury. And the chances of finding an unbiased jury would also be much easier if the public had not been led to those conclusions ahead of time.

JMO

 

[expat cdn]

I'm not a fan so far and don't like his self-promotion at all. I do remember his previous cases, but didn't pay much attention to them and had no idea he was the lawyer. (Maybe that's why he's taking the opportunity to advertise so much this time.) However, I think he has a point here:



All the public ever hears about is what makes the accused look bad. The press goes looking for people who will say the not so nice things. The ones who comment favourably barely get a mention and are mostly forgotten or ignored. Once that's done, everything goes silent, thereby preventing the public from hearing anything that may not quite add up or may not quite match what is suspected or proposed to have happened. It's almost like there is a need to convince the public immediately of the suspect's guilt. When really, the only people who need convinced will be the jury. And the chances of finding an unbiased jury would also be much easier if the public had not been led to those conclusions ahead of time.

JMO

I'm not quite sure that is true. There has been favourable stuff said about both DM and MS. It was reported that MS's neighbour said he was a good guy, or something like that. DM's flight instructor made some positive remarks. And now that I think about it.....there really has been minimal reports on comments made by friends or neighbours of these two, good or bad.

 

[Blomquist]

I'm not quite sure that is true. There has been favourable stuff said about both DM and MS. It was reported that MS's neighbour said he was a good guy, or something like that. DM's flight instructor made some positive remarks. And now that I think about it.....there really has been minimal reports on comments made by friends or neighbours of these two, good or bad.

That doesn't mean that more good comments have not been made IMO.... could well be a case of selective reporting. JMO

 

[Alethea Dice]

I'm not quite sure that is true. There has been favourable stuff said about both DM and MS. It was reported that MS's neighbour said he was a good guy, or something like that. DM's flight instructor made some positive remarks. And now that I think about it.....there really has been minimal reports on comments made by friends or neighbours of these two, good or bad.

Yes, there was a paragraph here and there with positive comments. But, notice the ones from AS and the ones about being weird in school were reported in a much larger way. You can see even here that many people focus on the bad ones and seem to have forgotten the good ones. Just thinking off the top of my head, in regards to DM at least, there have probably been more people who said positive things than negative. The flight instructor, the real estate man who sold him the farm, the man who rented him the boat in Manitoulin, the friend from France, the friend of his girlfriend, even LB's mother. But the focus is all on what AS said and being weird in school and dropping out of the TFS, the ones that were played up in the press. Maybe it's just because that is more the stereotype that people in general expect when someone is charged with such a horrible crime. But in the interest of keeping an open mind, people need to look at the whole picture and find a balance, not just at the parts that fit their image of a person who would be accused of a crime like this.

JMO

 

[ArianeEmory]

I guess I would point out, as a counterpoint, that none of those people knew him intimately, and some were just business transactions. I suppose his mother's privacy, for example, was more important to her than making a few quotes on his behalf.

(Then again, I'm sure the lawyer has directed them all to take full advantage of the publication ban.)

 

[Alethea Dice]

I guess I would point out, as a counterpoint, that none of those people knew him intimately, and some were just business transactions. I suppose his mother's privacy, for example, was more important to her than making a few quotes on his behalf.

(Then again, I'm sure the lawyer has directed them all to take full advantage of the publication ban.)

I think the friend from France probably knew him quite well. I could also point out that the school mates who thought he was weird and AS with his business conflicts probably didn't know him intimately either.

I also believe those favourable comments were made prior to the ban, so I doubt the lawyer had anything to do with it.

JMO

 

[ReignBRF]

I guess I would point out, as a counterpoint, that none of those people knew him intimately, and some were just business transactions. I suppose his mother's privacy, for example, was more important to her than making a few quotes on his behalf.

(Then again, I'm sure the lawyer has directed them all to take full advantage of the publication ban.)

Definitely a smart move on MB, as her life must go on, regardless of outcome of trial.

 

[ArianeEmory]

I wasn't crediting the negative comments either, for what it's worth. I think the dog biscuit story is just stupid. More making the point that we've heard from no blood family/girlfriend/"fiancé" etc. That *and* the superficiality of the negative comments make it seem, more to the point, that no one knew him particularly closely. I don't recall statements from the "friend from France", how significant were they?

 

[Alethea Dice]

I wasn't crediting the negative comments either, for what it's worth. I think the dog biscuit story is just stupid. More making the point that we've heard from no blood family/girlfriend/"fiancé" etc. That *and* the superficiality of the negative comments make it seem, more to the point, that no one knew him particularly closely. I don't recall statements from the "friend from France", how significant were they?

They weren't "significant", at least not as reported. It's harder to find the old articles now, but I believe the friend talked about how he always paid and bought things for his friends, but never talked about his money or where he got it. I understand his mother not talking to the press and the girlfriend can't talk to them. She's part of the ban.

 

[SnooperDuper]

They weren't "significant", at least not as reported. It's harder to find the old articles now, but I believe the friend talked about how he always paid and bought things for his friends, but never talked about his money or where he got it. I understand his mother not talking to the press and the girlfriend can't talk to them. She's part of the ban.

This is the article with the friend in it that you are looking for

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/17/dellen-millard-suspect-in-tim-bosmas-death-was-always-a-little-different-classmate-says/

 

[Alethea Dice]

This is the article with the friend in it that you are looking for

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/17/dellen-millard-suspect-in-tim-bosmas-death-was-always-a-little-different-classmate-says/

Thanks, Snooper. Who would have thought it would be in an article with a headline about him being "different" and doing "odd stuff". In fact, there's really nothing bad about the kind of person he was in that article. Sort of shows what I'm talking about with the way it's presented.

I notice that even RS, the aviation consultant who had known the family for decades, said he was "just a young man" "trying to figure out where he’s going with his life". It sounds like he contacted this trusted, older family friend for advice on what to do about the hangar.

And the very last line of the article...

And his friends, old and current, remain shocked and disbelieving of the charges he is facing.

 

[Carli]

Based on MSM we only know DM left TFS in grade 10. We cannot ascertain whether he dropped out of school generally, or that school specifically, in grade 10.

Also I've decided more than ever we have to take MSM reports with a grain of salt and look at wording carefully because it seems many reporters are getting crafty with the information given. Less reporting and more opinion it seems.

Numerous earlier MSM stories, as well as his WIKI indicate that DM graduated from TFS in 2002. The National Post itself earlier reported "Despite having aviation “in his blood,” as his grandfather once said, Mr. Millard went to train as a chef at a career college.
" http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/17/dellen-millard-suspect-in-tim-bosmas-death-was-always-a-little-different-classmate-says/

So, with regard to the education question we are left with DM's having left TFS in grade 10 or graduating in 2002; having attended Humber College enrolled in digital something in 2002 where he was "caught plagiarizing" or being enrolled after graduation in another college or trade school training as a chef. (Cuisine is also listed as an "interest" on Dee Em's FB page.)

These two examples of contrary reporting were taken from the same newspaper.

I quite agree with your "grain of salt" statement. Not only are reporters becoming more crafty, but frankly it appears to me that, at this point they're just resorting to making stuff up. IMO. With so much interest in this story it makes editorial sense, not to mention reporter's career sense, to deliver something, anything, on the subject but lack of information from the crown and the possibility of public fatigue with the Bosma family's financial tribulations leave the press with little choice. MOO. Cue the unnamed sources.

 

[Blomquist]

Numerous earlier MSM stories, as well as his WIKI indicate that DM graduated from TFS in 2002. The National Post itself earlier reported "Despite having aviation “in his blood,” as his grandfather once said, Mr. Millard went to train as a chef at a career college.
" http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/17/dellen-millard-suspect-in-tim-bosmas-death-was-always-a-little-different-classmate-says/

So, with regard to the education question we are left with DM's having left TFS in grade 10 or graduating in 2002; having attended Humber College enrolled in digital something in 2002 where he was "caught plagiarizing" or being enrolled after graduation in another college or trade school training as a chef. (Cuisine is also listed as an "interest" on Dee Em's FB page.)

These two examples of contrary reporting were taken from the same newspaper.

I quite agree with your "grain of salt" statement. Not only are reporters becoming more crafty, but frankly it appears to me that, at this point they're just resorting to making stuff up. IMO. With so much interest in this story it makes editorial sense, not to mention reporter's career sense, to deliver something, anything, on the subject but lack of information from the crown and the possibility of public fatigue with the Bosma family's financial tribulations leave the press with little choice. MOO. Cue the unnamed sources.

IMO it doesn't take much for people to create drama from a crisis be they reporters or just people in general. People are used to following crime on TV and in some ways I think they follow the script as it were. Reading the press is often a cryptic game.IMO. I don't have TV, and don't have a newspaper delivered.... my way of avoiding some 'programming' and some 'brainwashing' lol... at least I hope so. :dunno: :book:

 

[SnooperDuper]

Numerous earlier MSM stories, as well as his WIKI indicate that DM graduated from TFS in 2002.

For what it's worth, the Wiki article uses as its reference an article that does not state he graduated or when. Search the text for "grad" and you should get every variation of graduated and nope, this article does not say he graduated. So the Wiki is wrong.

DP described him thus: "He's a prep school kid from the Toronto French School." Again, not a graduate. I think some papers made the assumption though early on...most refer to him as "a student at" or having "attended" TFS, but the Spec once refers to him as a grad way back on May 12 before things were clarified: "In addition to flying, the Toronto French School graduate took up off-road racing in his 20s — road tripping to Mexico with friends in 2011 for the famous Baja 500 desert race."

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/2873832-bosma-suspect-profile-dellen-millard/

Metro writes they checked and he didn't graduate: "Son of an Air Canada pilot and flight attendant, Millard grew up an only child at the leafy Etobicoke cul-de-sac with his father, his parents eventually divorcing. He attended the Toronto French School but left before graduating, a spokesperson for the school confirmed."

http://metronews.ca/news/canada/676874/tim-bosma-the-painful-search-for-a-missing-man/

The National Post itself earlier reported "Despite having aviation “in his blood,” as his grandfather once said, Mr. Millard went to train as a chef at a career college.
" http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/17/dellen-millard-suspect-in-tim-bosmas-death-was-always-a-little-different-classmate-says/

Well keep in mind DM is nearly 28 years old, he could have tried a couple programs between leaving TFS and now.

So, with regard to the education question we are left with DM's having left TFS in grade 10 or graduating in 2002; having attended Humber College enrolled in digital something in 2002 where he was "caught plagiarizing" or being enrolled after graduation in another college or trade school training as a chef. (Cuisine is also listed as an "interest" on Dee Em's FB page.)

If DM was at Humber in the fall of 2002 he would have been 17 (birthdate: 8/30/1985). That makes him too young to attend as a mature student (who must be 19) and the 3D animation program he's said to have been in requires Grade 12 English plus 3 additional Grade 11/12 credits. So either he got that far, or he took advantage of an early admission offer of some sort without bothering to graduate, or he got really really special treatment (as a dropout without the required prerequisites who is not a mature student).

These two examples of contrary reporting were taken from the same newspaper.

I think he had time enough in his life to try and drop out of each of the programs, so both may be true, especially from what we know of his interests (gaming, cuisine).

I quite agree with your "grain of salt" statement. Not only are reporters becoming more crafty, but frankly it appears to me that, at this point they're just resorting to making stuff up. IMO. With so much interest in this story it makes editorial sense, not to mention reporter's career sense, to deliver something, anything, on the subject but lack of information from the crown and the possibility of public fatigue with the Bosma family's financial tribulations leave the press with little choice. MOO. Cue the unnamed sources.

I think more was made up at the beginning, but things are being clarified just now. IMO. I do believe that you cannot expect the press to be perfect or have every single word in an article have special meaning. With things like the graduation issue, if a school official was contacted and said DM had not graduated, I believe that he did not get all of his grade 12 and that easily fits with everything else.

 

[Alethea Dice]

Metro writes they checked and he didn't graduate: "Son of an Air Canada pilot and flight attendant, Millard grew up an only child at the leafy Etobicoke cul-de-sac with his father, his parents eventually divorcing. He attended the Toronto French School but left before graduating, a spokesperson for the school confirmed."

http://metronews.ca/news/canada/676874/tim-bosma-the-painful-search-for-a-missing-man/

I think more was made up at the beginning, but things are being clarified just now. IMO. I do believe that you cannot expect the press to be perfect or have every single word in an article have special meaning. With things like the graduation issue, if a school official was contacted and said DM had not graduated, I believe that he did not get all of his grade 12 and that easily fits with everything else.

rsbm

The Metro article only says that he left the TFS before graduating. It doesn't say he didn't graduate at all from anywhere else.

How exactly does not graduating "fit" with everything else? I'm not trying to be snippy, I just don't understand what you mean by this. I really don't see what graduating or not graduating has to do with anything.

 

[SnooperDuper]

rsbm

The Metro article only says that he left the TFS before graduating. It doesn't say he didn't graduate at all from anywhere else.

How exactly does not graduating "fit" with everything else? I'm not trying to be snippy, I just don't understand what you mean by this. I really don't see what graduating or not graduating has to do with anything.

Sorry for being unclear.

I mean that he could have completed Grade 11 AND Grade 12 English AND dropped out of TFS AND been admitted to Humber AND have been kicked out by 17 AND gone to culinary school and still have time left over. IMO.

I don't think that the issue is very important either but it does show DM is lacking in diligence/discipline. IMO.

 

[Blomquist]

Sorry for being unclear.

I don't think that the issue is very important either but it does show DM is lacking in diligence/discipline. IMO.

Or that he was seeking out his own chosen career in Culinary Arts etc. He is also interesting in accounting according to his FB page. I think he may be more diligent than is thought and sometimes it is far easier to be more disciplined in things that interest us. JMO

 

[Pink Panther]

There are many "newbies" here and I would just like to point out that NEW threads can be started by anyone! For example, one can start a thread stating "DM is innocent and is being framed"...

moo

 

[Blomquist]

I think the friend from France probably knew him quite well. I could also point out that the school mates who thought he was weird and AS with his business conflicts probably didn't know him intimately either.

I also believe those favourable comments were made prior to the ban, so I doubt the lawyer had anything to do with it.

JMO

Yes the friends in France seemed to hold DM in high regard. Even the video of him on the boat in Europe he was softly spoken and seemed very unaggressive...JMO

Cant post the video as it seems to have been removed from the link.