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Hathway: Ensnared in similar sting
Sebastian Burns
and Atif Rafay
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< Chronological Master List of Significant Entries (page one) | > > >(page
two)
- The introduction
and key
Chronological Master
List of Significant Entries (page
three)
B111 Al : "When I ask you a simple question,
were you alone or were you with someone and you can't answer
me a simple yes or no, that makes me think that you're hiding
something."
B114 "You know what though, when you don't answer
that question it makes me think that you don't trust me."
And therefore Burns cannot be trusted as long as he maintains
innocence or even resists incriminating himself.
C23 Burns tries to convince Al that Rafay is trustworthy.
Al: "What's he think about his family fuckin' being done?"
Burns: "Nothing."
Al: "Good..." Al proceeds to ask about motives and
attitudes towards incident.
C35 Al asks whether they feel good about the crime,
and upon receiving an affirmative response declares " -well
they gotta be trustworthy."
D31 Al: "Trust and honesty is the biggest thing
in my life. People work for me, they're not honest with me, then
I don't trust them... I'll never fuckin' look after them. That's
the bottom line here... Honesty's the biggest thing and trust.
My whole fuckin' everything I do depends on trust.
D36 Al (to Rafay): "My concern here, can you
be trusted. You see what I'm sayin'." "And what I'm
thinkin' now is... Sebastian'd be in more fuckin' shit than you
for, see why, you know why." "That's why I gotta be
sure you are solid." "Why didn't you fuckin' swing
a bat."
D51 Al (to Rafay): "Okay trust is the biggest
thing here, man." "Trust is the biggest thing."
Rafay tries to persuade Al that he would never inform on him.
Al then asks him how he feels about the crime and motive.
E3 Al (to Miyoshi): "...the biggest thing
is trust, and I gotta know I can trust you. What I like about
you so far is that uh, when they were going down to the States
you didn't fuckin' rat about." (Miyoshi makes some exculpatory
remarks, and when Al indicates his anger at this Burns apologizes
for Miyoshi.) Al: "Yeah I understand he's being clever,
but this isn't the time to be clever, I gotta be sure I can trust
him." (Al then asks for specific information about Miyoshi's
supposed knowledge of the crime.)
E4 Al: "Let's be honest."
(Proceeds to ask questions requiring incriminating answers).
" .. .I'll tell you the reason I'm asking is I gotta be
sure you can be trusted." "See what I'm saying? I mean
not hiding nothing from me right now because it's not gonna anybody
any good. If I can't trust you I can't trust anybody 'cause you're
involved with me right now.... And I gotta be sure I can trust
all three of you."
E6 Burns to Miyoshi, while Al listens: 'I . ..the
question in his head is why, why you didn't you guys do as much.
. . . . And basically urn, for him it is to like it's to your
credit for you to explain that to him okay because of the reason
why he would want to know that you knew about it in advance okay,
is because urn, like I know that I can trust you with my like
you know what I mean, but he doesn't know that, alright. Okay
and so if you explain yes I knew about it in advance uh, I didn't
say shit to anybody okay it just shows that basically you know
you didn't fuck me up. Because I've told him... I never have
to worry about you like screwing me around, ever..."
E6-7 Burns (continuing): "...he can't necessarily
sort of empathize with that so simple things like the fact that
you knew about it in advance and didn't you know go tell the
cops, this is, this thing's gonna happen you know what I mean.
. . ..That's like basically is evidence of your trustworthiness....
So basically there's not much choice but to like forget about
that kind of thing (i.e. concerns about making false inculpatory
remarks because) because.... there's really very little we can
do at this point, so."
E7 Al (to Miyoshi): "That's all, I just want
to be sure you can be trusted, see" . " What I want
to know is the trust between you three."
E8 (Al asks how "tight" things are between
Miyoshi and his friends) Miyoshi: "How tight should I explain
things..."
Al: "I don't know, what, what did you know about this before
they went down to do it?" (Miyoshi gives evasive answers.)
Al: "See for some reason you seemed a little hesitant about
talking about this. Now that's what I can't figure out because
it makes me think maybe you're hiding something from me and maybe
from Sebastian."
E9 Al explains that he wants to ask about the crime
to ensure that he can trust the boys. He then asks Miyoshi "So
how long did you about this before it happened?"
El0 Al (to Miyoshi, about the purpose for his questions):
"...I just want to be sure you're trustworthy."
El2 Al (again to Miyoshi, about the purpose of his
questions): "Totally for trust." "Totally."
"It's all trust. I'm trying to establish in my mind if I
can trust you.
El3 Al: "Okay see, but you knew about it ahead
of time? That's fuckin' good, that's solid." Back
to key
8. BURNS'S INDICATIONS OF DISINTEREST
IN COMMITTING CRIMES FOR AL AND GARY.
Al5 Burns explains that on the evening of this meeting
he would otherwise have gone to meet with
a man who is going to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars
in a film that Burns wishes to make with his friend. The wiretap
evidence from the house monitor would reveal this to be a lie,
thus making it reasonable to infer that this remark is made only
to give a seemingly legitimate reason for Burns to avoid any
obligation to commit crimes for Al and Gary.
A18-21 Burns refers to a film script written by himself
and his friend. Evidence from the houses wiretap would indicate
that there is no completed script, and that Burns is lying, presumably
to support his later claims that he is too busy to commit crimes.
A21 Burns has been asked by Gary to discuss his
film. Burns at first does so superficially, but then introduces
the topic of Al's and Gary's expectation that Burns will commit
crimes for them. No mention has yet been made of this. Burns
states that he has no idea what Al and Gary have planned for
Burns, and makes the following remarks (among others) before
Gary says anything on the matter.
Burns: "...I can tell you that... to be honest... I'm not
suitably interested I guess in, in, [working for Al, committing
crimes] cause like, you're you're doin' too much fucking around...
my reason for, for sort of doing it (driving the stolen car and
maintaining the relationship) is, is more because I, I guess
I worry uh like being tough with you guys..." It must be
stressed that the first tape recorded remark about the prospect
of Burns committing crimes for Al is this one, and that Burns
states that he is disinterested and
complies only because he is intimidated.
A22 Burns explains he is under investigation, but
has no reason to worry about this except that it makes him wish
to avoid of criminal activity: "I'm not worried... I have
no reason to worry, but I guess like having, having something
pop up on a criminal record now would, it would just kinda fuck
me up... I have a problems with a criminal record." (Burns
does not have a criminal record.) Burns is at great pains to
assure Gary that he doesn't despise Gary's line of work, he simply
doesn't want to participate, stating that
" I was so anxious last time about that thing with the car,
. . . and I wanted everything covered... it's not like I'm worried
about, you know auto theft (the context would indicate that to
"worry about auto theft" in this sense would be to
worry about the criminality of it from a moral perspective, as
the remark seems to distinguish between this and them prospect
of getting caught, which he had, in prior remarks, proffered
as the object of his concern) or whatever. I mean like, I'm a
little worried about that, but uh you know the
girl, well first hand and, and who knows what'11 come of it,
I mean but... the problem is it'll affect this other thing right.
So that, that's why I'm sort of anxious..."
A23 Burns states that he does not want to commit
crimes, explaining that this is particularly the case now that
he's been fingerprinted.
A29 Burns explains, after Gary tells him that he
won't go to jail for the car theft, that even the possibility
of being charged is sufficient to deter him from committing crimes.
A30 Burns appears to indicate his disinterest in
crime by suggesting that he would never trust Al and Gary.
A46 Burns: 'I... you know I was sort of getting
at earlier is that... I'm a bit busy... this movie thing i- is...
the sort of thing that . . . you gotta do now and so uh I'm gonna
way..." Burns says he will keep in touch and meet Al and
Gary in ten years.
A51 Burns says that he is going to be busy with
the film and would prefer not to commit crimes, but suggests
that he could perhaps do something if it was "easy"
to do.
A53 When Gary asks how Burns knows he. wouldn't
have a problem with shooting a criminal who betrayed Gary's criminal
organisation, Burns admits he doesn't, "but it's sort of
moot point because I guess what I'm also saying is that, there'd
be two (sic) many sort of technical reasons why I, I wouldn't
necessarily want to do that."
A54-55 Burns tries to show that he's trustworthy by saying
that he's been interrogated by detectives. When Gary says that
this doesn't prove anything if one is innocent of the crime about
which one is being interrogated, Burns agrees he just doesn't
have "credentials" 'I... we're at odds and . . . the
answer is that there's nothing I can do, because I'm not qualified
to say, umm, what I can or cannot do..."
A57 In response to a diatribe by Gary about how
Burns needs to work his way up "a slower road," Burns
replies " . ..I guess, the thing is, I almost, almost not
that motivated right now, because like as I said, right, I just
got things to do..." When Gary asks how long he'll be busy,
Burns says "A year or better" "A year or something
like that... there's no telling what, what things could come
up that..." (Recall that Burns before had suggested a duration
of ten years.)
A69-70 In response to Al's suggestion that he needs
someone who can take care of business, Burns responds, It . ..well
I'm not suggesting to you that
(INDECIPHERABLE) umm, (INDECIPHERABLE) uhhh, cause auh, because
. . . " No
such thing, but uh 'I. Proper transcription would be useful here,
but Burns seems to be denying having committed murder or being
capable of it.
A70 In response to Al's suggestion that Burns had
the "brains" to plan something like the murder of the
Rafays, Burns says "I don't really have the kind of money
to do those kinds of things..." and tries yet again to extricate
himself from Al and Gary: "my concerns with you is that
I don't necessary have the time you need to do lots of work right
now... it's like I sort of have things on my plate... Like I
say, I'm totally busy..."
A74 Al refuses to accept and ignores these statements
of disinterest and continues to act as though Burns wants to
work for him, insisting on the necessity of trust, etc. prompting
Burns to suggest that in addition to his filled schedule and
lack of time, the money he would receive for working for Al would
be inconsequential. Al is quite annoyed and tries to convince
Burns that the financial rewards are enormous.
A75 Al states that he would like Burns to become
a cocaine dealer, stating that Burns had to prove his trustworthiness
first. Burns: "Yeah, well (INDECIPHERABLE) I guess auh,
cause I guess what I'm thinking is like auh, I'm thinking like
the film and you know..."
Al: "When I first met you, you said you need money to make
a film, you' wanta make money to make a film?"
Burns: "Sure. I auh..."
Al: "Bottom line, okay?"
Burns: "Okay."
Al: "I'm not gonna walk up and hand you two hundred fuckin'
thousand dollars, I'd be a fool, you know that for a fact."
Burns: "Yeah, well I wasn't suggesting you do that."
This excerpt seems to confirm that both Gary and Al recall Burns
saying originally that he needed money to make a film and in
this specific excerpt Burns does not seem to contradict this,
and as such it would seem that his claim that he now has financing
for his film was a ploy to explain his disinterest.
A76 Al says that Burns could become a cocaine dealer
but says that Burns has to prove that he can handle it. Burns:
"Well, (INDECIPHERABLE) well a lot of problems (INDECIPHERABLE)
wanta do on the Northshore cause I, I'm very well known, as auh,
a, a, (INDECIPHERABLE) guy." Al explains that Burns could
sell drugs as he could get others to "handle the product."
Burns: "Well auh as I say, I'm (INDECIPHERABLE) out there,
in the next couple months, and I kinda... and auh, you gonna
(INDECIPHERABLE) there's, there's (INDECIPHERABLE) and auh."
Al: "Is there someone to make this film already?" Burns
now says that he doesn't need money as he already has $200,000
and will be meeting a man who will double the budget. (Evidence
from the house wiretap would likely reveal that the last assertion
is a fabrication.) He says in any case his budget will be adequate,
and concludes, "... that's what I'm gonna do." Burns
suggests that the perception described in above in A75 and elsewhere
is a misunderstanding. (It is likely in cross-examination that
both officers would express confidence that Burns had in fact
stated that he was seeking financing, thus providing further
evidence that Burns's assertion on this page is in fact a ploy.)
A77 Al states that he moves $300,000 every 36 hours,
and that his biggest problem is that "banks aren't open
fuckin' long enough." Burns insists again "I want to
do this movie, . . . I will beg very busy."
A79 Al, bizarrely, says that he's not offering Burns
a contract yet, and Burns sums up neatly: "Well what I'm
saying is that I don't have much time to make... and you're saying
well that's fine, cause I haven't give you the contract yet so."
(This, incidentally, is when Officer Haslett, realizing Burns
is "getting away," raises the fear that Burns is going
to be an informer.)
A81 In response to Al's question "Who's financing
your movie?'*, Burns replies cryptically "Just auh, a couple
guys." Al finally acknowledges what Burns has been saying
all along " maybe you don't need me, maybe you don't fuckin'
want money, that's fine too." Burns, with evident relief,
confirms this: "...actually that sort, sort of what I've
been getting at... I'm not that motivated... I got a lot of shit
to do, and then you know, the time, but . . . it's almost like
auh, I, I feel almost obligated in a way to have, you know do
some work with you..."
A82 In an almost completely indecipherable paragraph
in the middle of the page Burns seems to indicate his disinterest
in committing crimes because of his desire to continue work on
his film.
A29/53 Burns maintains to Al that one way or another
financing for the film will come through and that the film will
take a lot of time and that he's not that motivated to work.
Al rightly points out that Gary isn't working hard in an attempt
to pressure to Burns to maintain involvement.
A31/53 Burns defends his lawyer, and maintains that
he feels safe and knows where he "stands" with respect
to the investigation, and that he is simply curious about what
the detective are saying about the case. Al keeps asking what
to find out.
A35/53 Gary explains that Burns should sabotage the
police case against him. Burns says dismissively, "Well
yeah okay, anyhow." Gary says "Did you hear what I
said, don't give me this anyhow..."
A38/53 Gary: "You were thinking of you-, have
no interest in doin' the other thing? Obviously not. No? Do it
later?" This page needs to be retranscribed as it is largely
incomprehensible. The topic changes suddenly, and in this transcription
incomprehensibly in the middle of the page.
A49/53 Al offers a car to Burns, but Burns demurs:
"... my problem quite honestly is that, urn like I said
I don't know if I'm gonna have time to do what, you know, you
might think is appropriate for me to do..." "...I would
never want to hit you up for a favour", presumably because
Burns does not want to have to do criminal work for Al.
B65 Burns indicates his disinterest in Al's offer
by going on about the (then) emerging independent film market
in response to Al's demand that Burns "help" him out.
B119 Al once again tries to convince Burns to "work"
for him, but Burns is reluctant: "I don't want to stop making
it (film), I want to go with it because... beside the fact I
want to do it... I bet that we could make more money off this
film than whatever you throw at me..."
D22 Burns tries to persuade Al to leave him to make
the film, and offers to pay for Al's inconvenience with proceeds
from the film, rather than by performing work for Al. Back to key
9.) BURNS'S INABILITY TO
COMMIT CRIMES
A23 Burns, having stated several times that he's
disinterested in crime, suggests that perhaps if necessary he
could do "simple things" for Gary and, Al.
A26 Gary says that when he proposed the auto theft
to Burns "you looked like you were gonna shit when Al said
this is what we're doin'..."
A43 Gary: " . ..when I saw you on that fuckin'
uh , on who's uh car? That's uh, I think you were gonna fuckin'
shit. I thought holy fuck, big mistake here."
A44 Gary: "It seems to me that boostin' a car
seemed to be uh, at the very outer most extremities of somethin'
that you'd be doing."
A50 Burns: "I'm still pretty ignorant".
Burns says he isn't capable of crime. He first says, in a mistranscribed
line, " . ..I'm not capable of like you know, kicking guy's
asses or whatever," to which Gary replies, "Yeah obviously..."
(The RCMP transcribed the remark as, "...I'm not capable
of... kissin' your guys asses..." And as far as like, what
I'm capable of doing, I mean like... like I said like how competent
I am like... I mean really." (eventually mumbles into explanation
that he would prefer to make the film on A51)
A51 Burns says that he is going to be busy with
the film and would prefer not to commit crimes, but suggests
that he could perhaps do something if it was "easy"
to do. In response to Gary saying "Everything's easy"
Burns replies: "Yeah well I don't say because I don't know
that this it." Burns attempts to suggest money laundering
as something for Gary to tell him about.
A52 Burns explains that although his conscience
would not be bothered by murder (Gary has already admitted to
murder), he would not be capable of it for "technical reasons."
(This remark lead to the headline, "KILLING DOESN'T BOTHER
ME" next to a photograph of Burns on the cover of The Province.)
A69-70 Al seems to say that he needs someone who can take
care of business (i.e. commit murders) and Burns says he's not
capable of that.
A93 Al: "I'm not convinced you can fuckin handle
all this shit."
Burns: "Yeah, well, huu, I guess not."
A29/53 Burns: "at the same in time, urn, you know
I'm ignorant about how much ah that would concern. It would take
and ah, you know, and ah really you know . . . " Burns is
remarking that his lack of experience in crime precludes him
from knowing precisely how difficult crimes are to commit.
B124 In response to Al's query of whether Burns could
kill, Burns replies "doubt it," followed by "I
really think that would be very unpleasant. I don't know."
After Al again asks "What if I needed it done, and the circumstances
were right." Burns again responds "I, I . . . doubt
it man... 'cause I think that be very fucking brutal. Fuckin'
it'd make me an old man. And my hair falls out..." Back to key
10.) AL'S AND GARY'S UNSHAKEABLE
CONVICTION OF BURNS'S GUILT
Transcript excerpts that show
that Al and Gary are convinced of Burns's guilt, and presume
any exculpatory remarks to be mendacious.
A29 Gary: "Like there's uh, it's there, uh
you know I don't know, I don't know what this, uh, the end of
this movie is or, I don't know what uh, what uh, this thing that
you, you say you've done or whatever but, uh you know, I, I don't
know." (Burns, prior to this remark, has not given any indication
whatsoever that he is guilty of any crime.)
A8/53 Al: "You obviously left somethin' down
there that's fuckin' ah, people are asking for."
Burns: "Well, not obviously."
Al: "They want your fuckin' ass for some reason."
A11/53 "Sebastian I know what you didn't tell
me. I don't give a fuck! That's why it's not a fuckin' act! I
don't give a fuck what you know!"
A13/53 Al: "You didn't do what you did for sixty
fuckin' grand on a fuckin' house. Not a fuckin' chance!"
A17/53 Al asserts his presumption of guilt while remarking
on motive. He has just expressed concern about Burns's trustworthiness.
Burns's response to Al's assertion of Burns's guilt is to attempt
to assure Al that he would never turn Al in.
A18/53 Al: " you tell me what's going on down
there, that's what I'm asking you. " "You left something
behind down there." "What went on down there, what
went on down there? You tell me...."
A20/53 Al tries to convince Burns that the police have
evidence against him. "They're saying, they have something
there." "So why'd you do it? Be candid with me and
tell me why you did it. And I can fuckin'-, sure like to find
out."
A21/53 Al: "You're [sic] motive is fuckin' more
than sixty thousand fuckin' dollars on a house." "Well
what is the motive? Not for sixty thousand dollars on a house."
"Fuck! Say it, fuck I read, I know."
A27/53 Al : "Want me to tell you what I'm convinced?"
"You did that murder." "And that's why you're
solid." "I just know what I found out up here. I just
told you, I know you did that fuckin' murder all of them."
A28/53 Al : "'cause I can't figure out why you
did that for sixty fuckin' grand?"
A30/53 Burns, having been told numerous times that
Al "knows" he's guilty and that he is, for this reason
only, trustable with compromising information (in non-arrest
circumstances) says, "...if you think that.... You- you
think that, you think that based on reports and outside sources.
Sometime if you-, you go and ask around. And you know, ask them."
Burns's tone would seem to be insolent or hostile, as Gary says
" don't get your back up man " Gary later says "I'm
in the same situations at that time but, I don't know man. Well
fuck we're all . . . he's fuckin' blindsided me once, twice,
now you're doing it once whatever. I just, I just like dealing
. . you know and ah, somehow I'll say one thing, and you say
another thing, but it ain't 52 cards that's been fuckin' played
over here. I don't know, and probably you do."
A35/53 Gary: "... but I know, I've done a lotta
time for guys who were fuckin'
. . . just as clear fuckin' did it. And they're saying no they
didn't did it. They ain't gonna fuckin' be sittin' there chasing
down something, that ain't there. And you do what the fuck you
want, if it's there, you get rid of it. That's, that's the pure
and simple you should do and ah, otherwise ah-ah, I-I been that
fuckin' route man and as long as I've been sitting there, they're
still doing time...."
A37/53 Al : "How was it planned?" "Well
you're hear (sic) to fuckin' day because of what I read in .
. . I told you that day. How'd you plan all of this?"
A54/53 (labelled START OF TAPE
4, SIDE A) Al: "You committed the fuckin' perfect crime,
here haven't you? You're fuckin' auh, you're scared as hell."
B68 Al: "You can take care of business the
way you took care of it down there, you can always look after
the business I want looked after."
B69 Al asks Burns how his hair came to be in the
shower mixed with blood.
Burns: "Well, I guess at some point I must've been in the
shower and, uh, at some point there was blood in the shower and,
uh,"
Al: "Forget about it fuckin', you're fuckin' makin' circles.
I didn't come down on last night's train. How did the dead people's
blood get in the fuckin' shower with your hair?"
B77 Burns: "...if there [sic] scenario is that,
ya know Sebastian has killed someone..."
Al: "Let's forget about this scenario, they know you killed
him. That's in the report is fuckin'. Gary was talkin' about
green and black. That in, that report is so fuckin' uh, white
whatever, so clear, it's unreal."
B87 Burns suggests that the physical evidence could
be accounted for innocently. Al: "Okay. Stop the fuckin'
bullshit there. Stop the bullshit there. Right now you're all
but fuckin' lying to me."
B88 Burns: "I'm not goddamn lying to you."
Al: "You are fuckin' givin' me this song and dance and everything
you just told me. That you told me last time I talked to you
that, which I don't know fuck all about. You come back and found
these fuckin' bodies. You found them, the report I fuckin' read.
Fuckin' basically spells out black and white. That, the police
fuckin' know you killed these people... So I'm not gonna have
this bullshit, you lying to me now, or fuckin' uh, you come back
and found these fuckin' bodies. You must think I come down on
last night's train. The minute you start thinkin' that about
me..."
Burns: "Holy Christ,"
Al: "And this fuckin'..." (...)
Burns: "I... To be civil, tell your friends check to see
if there was any blood on the fuckin' clothes."
Al: "You be civil with me. Don't fuckin' lie to me. Don't
take me for a fuckin' stupid man." "You're always started
tellin' me you come back and found these bodies that I fuckin'
know for a fact..." Burns says that the evidence is not
compelling, but that it is worthwhile checking if it could be
misrepresented as incriminating.
Al: "Don't be a smart ass with me man."
B101 Al: "No no this can be answered 'cause
it's fuckin' you can answer cause I wanna know. I will, it'll
be on my on my fuckin' mind lots. Why did you do this? Answer
me that fuckin' thing. I just wannna know, just wanna know it's
on my mind. Was it for money? Tell me, it's so fuckin' simple
answer just tell me that. It's not as though, I know you fuckin'
did it. You know you did it. The police even fuck know you did
it. We'll take care of the police, uh I wanna know for the peace
of fuckin' mind."
B115 Al: "You're saying they could find hair
from five fuckin' days ago, well that's fucking great. The report
I read fuckin' puts you there. You know that, I know that."
11. BURNS FEELS OBLIGATED
TO MAINTAIN HIS ACQUAINTANCE WITH AL AND GARY AND COMMIT CRIMES
FOR THEM
A21 Burns explains he does not want to work for
Al because of, among other things, his disinterest and lack of
time, and that "... my reason for, for sort of doing it
is, is more cause uh I, I guess I worry uh like being tough with
you guys..."
A24 This page needs retranscription but includes
Burns remarking "you established the tone." Burns seems
to be remarking on Gary's control of the conversation, and by
extension, the nature of their relationship, which is the subject
of their conversation.
A30 Burns has stated several times that he's disinterested
in committing crimes for Gary and Al and has used a variety of
excuses, favouring the explanation that he is prevented from
committing crime by the investigation of him. At the beginning
of this page Burns explains that there is a great deal of press
coverage of this investigation and that for this reason he cannot
commit crimes because even an allegation about a minor crime
would be reported widely in the press. Gary does not acknowledge
Burns's expression of disinterest and instead describes him as
talking in circles, and later says of his dissatisfaction with
Burns's excuses that "it's a matter of fuckin' uh trust."
A47-49 Burns attempts to obviate his obligation to
commit crimes and to prove his trustworthiness by suggesting
that in the future he would like to give money to Al and Gary
so that they could invest it in their criminal enterprise. Gary
eliminates this escape by saying that the same trust must exist
regardless. Gary remarks that many friends are not trustworthy,
to which Burns says, "Fortunately I've had enough things
to uh eliminate anyone I don't trust man." Gary eliminates
this escape also by asserting that this cannot be known to be
true unless he and his friends are together guilty of a crime.
A81 In response to Al's question "Who's financing
your movie?", Burns replies cryptically "Just auh,
a couple guys." Al finally acknowledges what Burns has been
saying all along 'I... maybe you don't need me, maybe you don't
fuckin' want money, that's fine too." Burns, with evident
relief, confirms this: " ...actually that sort, sort of
what I've been getting at... I'm not that motivated... I got
a lot of shit to do, and then you know, the time, but . . . it's
almost like auh, I, I feel almost obligated in a way to have,
you know do some work with you..."
A85 Gary: "We're gonna them anyway." Gary
explains they're going to do checks on the case regardless of
whether Burns wants them done or not. Burns describes himself
as having been "really scared" during the auto theft
scenario.
A91 After Burns's numerous explanations of his disinterest
in crime Al asserts: " Well let me tell you something Sebastian,
We'll scout that fuckin' Northshore" meaning that Burns
will become a drug dealer.
A7/53 Al: "We'll talk again. And I'll tell ya
we're leaning on you again."
A13/53 Al: "Tell me. No don't fuckin' nod your
head it's ah, situation where ah, we're gonna look after each
other."
A38/53 This page is badly transcribed but Burns, after
having indicated disinterest in committing crimes seems to be
saying that regardless of his lack of interest Al and Gary had
a crime planned for him on this and every other occasion of their
meetings. The word "furious" is transcribed as Burns's
description of his reaction to this.
B26 Gary inquires as to whether Burns or Miyoshi
are comfortable with the tasks before them. Miyoshi asks a question
about the length of time for which they will be performing the
criminal tasks required, to which Gary responds "Ask no
questions, receive no answers, man."
B64 Al: "If you want me to help you I can help
you. But, you're gonna help me." "Well, what you did
today. Keep on doing things like this today but in a bigger way..."
B71 Burns: "...that is the power you have over me,
okay, is that you're going to guarantee that I'm not going to
fuck you around for that very goddamn reason. . . ..you got power
over me so I'm not going to fuck you around" For the purpose
of this specific section, this remark shows that Burns is not
free to disregard any of Al's instructions, including orders
to commit crimes.
B117 Al: "Work together, live together, you're
happy. But don't fuckin' sell me short, and don't ever let your
fuckin' friends start selling me short, 'cause you start selling
me short, you'll be in the (INDECIPHERABLE) hurt..." Back to key
12. BURNS'S ASSERTIONS OF
HIS INNOCENCE
A30 Burns remarks about the prevalent presumption,
in the news media and amongst the police, of guilt despite innocence.
A31 Burns says "I'll totally level with you"
and proceeds to explain how he has been falsely accused of a
horrible crime. He explains how he has been harassed by the police
for almost a year.
A47-48 Burns remarks that he can trust his remaining
friends because those with whom he did not have a secure relationship
would now be inclined to believe the false allegations against
him.
A66 Burns provides an exculpatory explanation of
the allegations to Al.
A67 When asked about his role in the homicide, Burns
says he's accused of being a murderer and attributes this to
his having stayed at the house for a few days and the absence
of any other suspects.
A69-70 Al indicates his presumption that Burns is guilty,
to which Burns says "Urn, well, I'm not suggesting to you
that (INDECIPHERABLE umm, (INDECIPHERABLE) uhhh, cause auh, because..."
"...No such thing, but auh" Burns states that he does
not want Al to misunderstand and presume Burns's guilt.
Al: "Well with your fuckin' brains, obviously you could
plan something like that."
Burns: "Well yeah, I auh, I don't really have, the kind
of money to do those kinds of things (INDECIPHERABLE)"
Al: "What's that?"
Burns: "Huh, that, well that's all the kind of story that
I'd rather purchase than undertake myself but..." Burns
proceeds to explain that he is going to be very busy with filming
and doesn't have time to work for Al.
A71-73 Burns explains why he is being falsely accused.
A73 Al finally acknowledges Burns's assertions of
innocence, and remarks "And you're being fuckin' sewered."
A80 Al asks Burns to tell him about the homicides.
Burns explains that he and his friends came back home to find
the family dead.
A8/53 Burns explains that the police are investigating
him despite the lack of evidence because of the enormous pressure
put upon them by the community.
A19/53 Al asks about the crime scene to which Burns
says "Listen I, you know as much I do, okay." Burns
says that his body matter would be all over the crime scene because
of his having lived at the house for five days and indicates
his fear that the police might fabricate or might have already
fabricated evidence. Back to key
13. INDICATIONS BY BURNS
THAT HE IS INNOCENT AFTER HE HAS BEEN
PREVENTED BY AL FROM
EXPLICITLY MAINTAINING HIS INNOCENCE
A19/53 Burns: "Listen I, you know as much as I
do, okay." and "(Beginning of remark incomprehensible
- needs to be retranscribed) . . . if that's the case how the
fuck should I know what they're gonna to fabricate. You know
what I mean? They had months before they, before they finally
asked for hair and blood samples and they just fuckin' making
something up in all that time."
Al: "Was the lead down there?..."
Burns: "well like I said to you, I was in the house for
five days, hang around the house for five days? Sleep in the
bed, the hair's gonna be there in the room."
A20/53 Burns asserts that he feels police's public
claims that they have physical evidence are false.
A21/53 Burns: "Listen you know as much as I do,
about-, . . . there's nothing I can say that can help you if
you don't-."
Al: "No but I don't want to question blindly."
Burns: "...if you're not happy don't ask around about it
if you don't want me (the correct transcription would probably
be "...if you don't want to...") but if you were saying
you were going to anyhow so there. But I, there's nothing I can
say that can help you ah-.."
Burns then makes cynical remarks about the police's allegations
about Burns's motive and the reasons why he has been falsely
accused, and asserts that there is no evidence.
A32/53 Burns suggests that if the police were to arrest
him that they would assault him. He states that he feels the
police's requests for DNA sample from he and Rafay were to portray
Rafay and Burns as being uncooperative and not because they had
any legitimate physical evidence.
A33-35/53 Burns, continuing from, above states
that the requests were also made to stall the probate lawyer's
efforts to close the estate, as to allow this would be to reveal
their lack of evidence. Al instructs Burns to think about evidence
he could have left, to which Burns says "there's nothing
to leave." Then later, Burns says "I-1 mean, I-I don't
have clue what, what, if anything that they'd be suggesting they
tie me too..." He then explains that the presence of his
body matter at the crime scene is explained by his stay at the
house. "I have no idea what they are suggesting..."
A35/53 Gary urges Burns not to deny his guilt and to
plan to eliminate any possible evidence against him, to which
Burns says "Well yeah ok, anyhow," in a manner indicating
complete disinterest. This angers Gary.
B74 Burns explains that any body matter at the crime
scene is explained by his presence and innocent activities at
the house, and indicates his cynicism about the supposed evidence.
B87 Burns states that potential physical evidence
at the crime scene would be a result of his having stayed at
the house, to which Al replies "Stop the bullshit."
B111 Burns states that his having used a shower two
days before the crime could have resulted in its seemingly incriminating
presence in the shower. Later, he states that police and expert
witnesses would misrepresent the evidence as they are paid to
give incriminating testimony.
B113 Burns says that a forensic scientist may misrepresent
the crime scene in a way to indicate his guilt.
B114 Burns says that the police and forensic experts
may misrepresent the crime scene as containing conclusive evidence.
C10 Burns says that the his supposedly incriminating
body matter at the crime scene could have come to be there on
any of the preceding days when he was staying at the house and
using the showers.
Cl2 Burns: "...there is this possibility that
there can be things that I would know about that like they're
basically fabricating to look like they count..."
When Al indicates disapproval of this response, Burns suggests
the possibility
of evidence which is innocently explainable but that is being
misrepresented
as incriminating.
C24-26 Burns describes the alibi witnesses' allegations
of suspicious behaviour as being preposterous, and in one case
as being an outright fabrication.
C34 Burns is asked whether the motive had involved
a plan to make a film, and Burns explains that this event actually
prevented them from making a film using free equipment at Cornell
University, where Rafay was enrolled and where Burns should have
liked to apply.
C52 Burns is asked whether Atif did not exhibit
grief after the crime. Burns explains that Rafay did, and that
Burns himself was crying after the crime, but that later the
police lied and described them as having very little emotion.
FURTHER EXCULPATORY REMARKS
ARE NOT TRANSCRIBED BY THE RCMP BECAUSE OF A TAPE SIDE CHANGE.
(Notice that during supposedly inculpatory remarks, not a single
word of dialogue is missed. In the May 6 transcript, at least
one significant wiretap portion was not transcribed ostensibly
for this same reason, despite its actually having been recorded
and available.)
D16 Burns describes how the fingerprint on the box
is explained by his and Rafay's having searched through the boxes
(innocently) prior to the crime.
D16-D17 Burns describes how the police lied
and stated that nothing was stolen from the house during the
crime and hindered any attempts to determine whether anything
actually was stolen. Describes police as "pigs".
D52 Burns attempts to discuss the fact that "some"
of the evidence must be being misrepresented by the police as
being incriminating.
El4 Burns attempts to discuss
the possibility that the police may fabricate evidence, mentioning
that the police have a hairbrush of his which would contain a
great deal of his hair, thus enabling such fabrication. He later
expresses his concern that the forensic evidence being sabotaged
was not legitimate in the first place. Back to key
14.) BURNS'S DOUBT ABOUT
THE SOUNDNESS OF AL'S PLAN TO SABOTAGE THE POLICE EVIDENCE.
The significance of this section
is that it demonstrates that for Burns and his friends, the actual
sabotage was of secondary importance to the urgent obligation
to follow Al's orders.
Bl00 Burns states three times that he believes there
are at least two laboratories. Al finally says, "Who gives
a fuck what you heard?" After some further conversation
about the incompleteness of Al's information, Burns later remarks,
"Okay, alright, get every lab and like if you get every
lab then it's like -" at which point he is cut off by Al.
C36 Burns asks if the sabotage is only going to
occur at one lab, and asks, "How many labs they working
on?" (See Bl00.) Al does not allow for elaboration on this
topic.
El3 Burns remarks that Al did not specify that the
hair replacements should include the hair roots.
El3 Burns states his concern that the police would
fabricate more evidence if the first evidence was sabotaged.
El4 Burns states his concern that the police might
plant more evidence if the existing evidence is sabotaged, and
indicates that it is his belief that that is what occurred in
the first place. Burns finally says, "Okay, well I just
hope they don't-" but is cut off by Al.
NOTE: The house wire tap would have intercepted conversations
about the
boys' concerns that the plan was unsound. Back
to key
15.) AL'S CONCERN THAT RAFAY
OR MIYOSHI MAY INFORM ON BURNS OR AL
Transcript excerpts that show
concern on the part of Al and Gary that Rafay and Miyoshi might
not be trustworthy and that they would only be trustworthy if
they are guilty.
A67 Al (about Burns's friends): "How solid
are these guys? like how, how, how much are you gonna be hung
out to dry?" "How much are your friends gonna hang
you out to dry?"
A68 Al (continuing): "Solid people?"
Burns: "Absolutely."
Al: "So, if they knew what you were into here?" (Burns
assures Al that they would not betray anyone to the police.)
A85 Al: (about Gary's licence plate number) "Who
does know? You got that written down?"
A24/53 Al asks if Burns can trust his friend. Burns
says he can.
B82 Al: "None of his hairs fell into any incriminating
places. Now why, why, did yours? That's what I want to know.
Were you being set up by this guy or what?"
Burns: "No."
Al: "So why is your hair all there, and his isn't?"
"Why do you think? I, I 'cause I don't fuckin' know. Why
would you both be there during the fuckin uh job and uh , your
hair's there and his isn't? Like is he setting you up or what?"
B84 Al: "I know if it was against me and that
fuckin' guy sittin' over there was clean I'd be thinkin'; huh?
What went on here man?"
B96 Al: "And why your partner's, got no fuckin'
thing against him that I read. . . . . I'm thinking what the
fuck is going on? Is there such a fuckin' fuck up this whole
thing was? That, is it going to bite everybody in the ass?"
B105 Al: ' . ..you go kill these fuckin' people and
I'll fuckin' do this and you do this (referring to his perception
of Burns's role in the murder as the perpetration of the murder
itself, as opposed to his friends who presumably would purport
to compensate for their lack of involvement in other ways, unrelated
to the crime, such as cleaning the kitchen in their shared accommodations).
And then you're the one hanging out here to fuckin' dry....
That's what it comes down to." "I fuckin' hope these
guys are solid, man.They know you did it, they better not now
about me, what I'm gonna do for you. You got that? I, I don't
give a fuck if your (sic) man and wife I don't care what you
guys are, see what I'm saying?" "Because they've got
nothing to lose right now."
B106 Al (continuing): "In fact probably they
can be the stars they could come out and fuckin' at the end and
say hey Sebastian..." (Burns attempts to persuade Al that
his friends would not become informants.) "Whatever. "
"...they'll also end up getting that fuckin' money."
"I'm just telling you the way it is in life.Which I can
see here right now...." "....These two fuckin' guys
decide for some reason, hey.... let's get rid of fuckin' Sebastian
here and fuckin' uh, Jimmy and the other guy are fuckin' happy.
And you take a fall, you know who else takes a fall after everything's
done...." (Al, against Burns'
protestations, explains that Al himself will also "take
a fall" .)
B107 Al: "No, but it's both these guys decide..."
"...let's drop fuckin' uh, Sebastian and Al." "...these
guys better not know about me and you are doing."
B117 Al: "... But don't fuckin' sell me short,
and don't ever let your fuckin' friends start selling me short,
cause you start selling me short, you'll be in the (INDECIPHERABLE)
hurt..."
B127 Al: "You ever thought your two friends
here fuckin' used you to make money? " "What I'm trying
to get at, you sure there's (sic) not going to give you up."
"In my fuckin' world you always got to be concerned about
that."
B128 Al: "Well I just hope they don't give you
up."
C20 Al (about Rafay): "He can be trusted, eh?"
C21 Al: "I don't even know who he is, I gotta
meet him before too long, I'll tell you that right now, 'cause
when we have this plan in motion, I gotta make sure that cocksucker's
solid. I mean fuckin' solid." (Later, about the future occasion
of the sabotage) "-that's when uh, everybody's gotta keep
their fuckin' mouth shut."
C22 Al: "How solid's Atif?" "Well
why wasn't he helping you, though." (repeats this question
twice) "Well I've been involved in a few jobs in my fuckin'
day, and if one guys's standing around telling uh, me to do this,
do that, do this, unless I'm working for him and not with him,
it makes me think that fuckin' guy's a, hasn't got the balls
to do it."
Burns (dismissively): "Well, whatever."
Al: "No it's not whatever. I'll tell you why it's not whatever,
because I gotta be sure this cunt's solid."
C23 Al (after Burns has said
Rafay thinks "nothing" of his family having been killed):
"Good. As long as he's not gonna fuckin' break down after
and say oh fuck it's Sebastian."
C30 Al : "I'm thinking you're thinking, I'm
thinking this fuckin' guy has fuckin' planned this pretty smart.
I'm still worried about little fuckin' Atif, that he's standing
back there with his clothes on while you're running around the
fuckin' house in your fuckin' underwear uh, using a baseball
bat, as long as that fucker's solid, you know what I'm saying?"
"If he ever ratted you out, no, I'm gonna tell you, because
if he ever did, would he be able to say, I saw Sebastian hit
my dad with a bat, was he that close enough to see that?"
C32 Al: Whatever, see what I'm ask, why I'm asking.
these, because at the end I don't know fuckin' Jimmy coming down
saying oh I knew about it before and uh, didn't I told 'em I
didn't want no part of it. See why I'm saying, 'cause these three
guys, these two guy with you better be fuckin' solid." Burns
says he knew beforehand.
Al: "That's one thing... He didn't rat you out..."
C34 Al: "Well I can't fuckin' say it enough,
I hope these guys are solid."
Burns: "Well, whatever, I mean..."
Al: "No, not whatever, because now I'm gonna be involved
in this." "Well if they helped you plan it, and they
didn't rat you out ahead of time. I just wonder why Jimmy didn't
go down and help you out with it."
C39 Al: "And there's gonna be a lot of other
things, so, I'll decide then if I can trust him. I, I don't know
the fuckin' guy so I don't know." "I have one concern
in my mind and I always have concerns in the back of my mind,
is he let you swing that baseball bat and he didn't help you."
C40 Al: "I notice he also stayed up in Canada
when you were doing, doing the job, that's also on my mind."
"What I like about it, he knew it was gonna happen beforehand
and he didn't even fuckin' stop you so, and he didn't rat you
out."
C52 Burns: "...I shouldn't even really be saying
this because I know that they're not gonna you know fuck anyone
around but just for your peace of mind, you could just confidently
think well those guys wouldn't fuck me around because they'd
know that you know they'd be dead as soon as fuckin', two days
after they did..."
Al: "I want to be sure they don't because once they do lets
say, say..." (Burns interrupts on C53)
C53 Burns: "No well, I guess what I mean is
that they are, they are fuckin' smart enough to know what will
happen, because..."
Al: "And I'm smart enough to make sure I'll find out about
them before, see." "See what I mean? But those are
two things in my mind that I just, I gotta be sure I check 'em,
you can understand what I'm saying, right?" "You did
all the work and they just sat back and did the planning and
fuckin' said let's let Sebastian do the job."
D15 Al: "I been thinking all fucking day .
. . I just . . . nothing's come back . . That's why Atif better
be fuckin' solid. If I don't think he is, I'm out of here."
D35 Al (to Rafay): "Yeah, well, I'm a little,
he told me some stuff and I'm curious about a lot of things but
I'm curious about, the biggest thing is trust." "Because
as I explained to Sebastian yesterday, trust, like, I want to
be sure he can trust you and want to be one thousand percent
sure that I can trust you."
D36 Al (to Rafay): "My concern here, can you
be trusted. You see what I'm sayin'." "And what I'm
thinkin' now is... Sebastian'd be in more fuckin' shit than you
for, see why, you know why." "...you watched."
"You didn't take part." "You see what I'm gettin'
at." "That's why I gotta be sure you are solid."
"Why didn't you swing a bat?"
D46 Al emphasises to Rafay the need for "trust",
which means that he had better not "dare" keep any
information about the organisation, and explains that the reason
Rafay is there (presumably as opposed to being killed) is that
he is knowledgeable about computers and could therefore be an
asset.
D47-48 Al (to Rafay): "That's why I told Sebastian
I wanted to talk to you 'cause, my concern is that you can do
him damage, but also he says that you're a man that knows how
to run a computer." "It's the third guy we got to worry
about. Sebastian guarantees me he's solid, what do you think?"
"That's the only guy we gotta worry about so you got to
stay solid. I don't want him knowing about my business yet. But
I'll be talk to Jimmy whenever I get time because I don't need
nobody fuckin' saying hey, Mr. Police, here's what I can tell
you. And here's something else I can tell you."
D48 Burns and Rafay try to persuade Al that Miyoshi
is trustworthy.
D51 Al: "Okay trust is the biggest thing here,
man." "Trust is the biggest thing." (Rafay then
attempts to persuade Al that he will not inform on Al.)
¸
E2 Al (to Miyoshi): "...the biggest thing is I gotta
be sure I can trust you because uh, there's a lot of things on
my mind that... trust is everything, if you haven't got fuckin'
trust we're gonna be...never do business together, see what I
mean?" "You gotta understand. I got a few concerns..."
(Al asksBurns if Burns has informs Miyoshi of their sabotage
plan, to which Burns responds in the negative. (The audio tape
from the house wiretap would contain evidence that this is a
lie, that Miyoshi did actually know about the
plan.) Al mentions it to Miyoshi.) "...once I do that, that's
when the total trust's gonna have to come into play and I want
to be sure you can be trusted."
E3 Al: " the biggest thing is trust, and I
gotta know I can trust you. What I like about you so far is that
uh, when they were going down to the States you didn't fuckin'
rat about." (Miyoshi makes some exculpatory remarks, and
when Al indicates his anger at this Burns apologises for Miyoshi.)
Al: Yeah I understand he's being clever, but this isn't the time
to be clever, I gotta
be sure I can trust him."
E4 Al: "Let's be honest." (Proceeds to
ask questions requiring incriminating answers. "...I'11
tell you the reason I'm asking is I gotta be sure you can be
trusted." "See what I'm saying? I mean not hiding nothing
from me right now because it's not gonna anybody any good. If
I can't trust you I can't trust anybody 'cause you're involved
with me right now.... And I gotta be sure I can trust all three
of you."
E6 Burns to Miyoshi, while Al listens: "...the
question in his head is why, why you didn't you guys do as much.
. . . . And basically urn, for him it is to like it's to your
credit for you to explain that to him okay because of the reason
why he would want to know that you knew about it in advance okay,
is because urn, like I know that I can trust you with my life
you know what I mean, but he doesn't know that, alright. Okay
and so if you explain yes I knew about it in advance uh, I didn't
say shit to anybody okay it just shows
that basically you know you didn't fuck me up. Because I've told
him... I never have to worry about you like screwing me around,
ever..."
E6-7 Burns (continuing): "...he can't necessarily
sort of empathize with that so simple things like the fact that
you knew about it in advance and didn't you know go tell the
cops, this is, this thing's gonna happen you know what I mean.
. . ..That's like basically is evidence of your trustworthiness.
..there's really very little we can do at this point, so."
E7 Al: "That's all, I just want to be sure
you can be trusted, see. "What I want to know is the trust
between you three."
E8 (Al asks how "tight" things are between
Miyoshi and his friends) Miyoshi: "How tight should I explain
things..."
Al: "I don't know, what, what did you know about this before
they went down to do it?" (Miyoshi gives evasive answers.)
Al: "See for some reason you seemed a little hesitant about
talking about this. Now that's what I can't figure out because
it makes me think maybe you're hiding something from me and maybe
from Sebastian."
El0 Al (to Miyoshi, about the purpose for his questions):
"...I just want to be sure you're trustworthy."
El2 Al (again to Miyoshi, about the purpose of his
questions): "Totally for trust." "Totally."
"It's all trust. I'm trying to establish in my mind if I
can trust you."
El3 Al: "...I just want to know how fuckin'
much you know in advance and uh, how much of a role you played
in it to uh, so how much you got to lose if he gets popped, you
know what I mean?" "...you knew about it ahead of time?
That's fuckin' good, that's solid." Back
to key
16.) RESOURCES AND INCLINATION
TO KILL
Transcript excerpts that show
the extent of Gary's and Al's criminal operation and resources,
and the practical considerations which would incline them to
commit a murder in order to protect the sound operation of their
organization. This section also includes evidence of Burns's
perception of Al and Gary as having such resources and inclinations.
This section is of significance also because it contains numerous
disclosures by the criminals about their activities, which could
all presumably become a liability should
Burns become an informant. As the entire evening was orchestrated
by Al, it would seem that these disclosures were permitted, and
perhaps even encouraged, by Al for reasons best accounted for
in sections 1 and 10, specifically All/53 (I'... I don't give
a fuck what you know").
A8 Gary refers to his ability to easily procure
a forged or false driver's licence...
A10 . ..and forged or false Medicare cards.
A11 Gary and "Woody" refer to organized
criminal activity in Canada (specifically Quebec, it would seem
in this instance) and the U.S.A..
A12 Woody produces two handguns and indicates that
they were recently used in a homicide.
A22 Burns: "I mean like, I'm a little worried
about that (the auto theft) but uh, you know the girl, well first
hand and, and who know what'11 come of it..."
A26 Gary explains that they kill wives and families
of objectionable colleagues, and that in the scenario described
it insured that the victim of the crime would not attempt to
press charges or give evidence
A27-28 Gary explains that his organization kills potential
informants, and describes and occasion wherein he was charged
with murder and was denied bail, but was ultimately freed because
the witness who had agreed to give (presumably eyewitness) testimony
against him was killed before the trial, in a murder contract
arranged by Al. (See insert page containing portions of conversation
occurring during the change of tape sides (conspicuously) not
transcribed by the RCMP (omission on A27)
A30 Gary states, "I uh, but I sense something
untrustworthy here..." Burns responds, "Well I explained
further then I " whereupon he is interrupted by Gary who
says, "Well, it's not a matter of explainin' further, it's
a matter of uh, it's a matter of fuckin' uh trust." He later
says, "...but the fact that you're, that, you're reluctant
and I can see why you're reluctant. But that has me wonderin',
thinkin' that maybe I should be reluctant too." It is unclear
precisely in what sense Gary would be "reluctant".
It, would seem to
be a sinister euphemism.
A44 The RCMP transcript contains an account of Gary
saying, "What do ya think we're gonna do?" to Burns.
This is a mistranscription. The actual remark is, "What
do you think we do," in response to which Burns states that
he believes Al and Gary are involved in auto thefts, insurance
fraud, narcotics, homicide for hire, trafficking.
A47 Gary states that it is essential that Burns
be trustworthy regardless of what their relationship is - even
if he is not committing crimes.
A49 Gary emphasizes the importance of trust, and
says that if the "trust" is not there, "it's not
worth the risk." Again, this remark contains threatening
ambiguity.
A69 Al asks Burns about the Bellevue homicides,
his sole reason being to ensure Burns's trustworthiness: "I
just wanta be sure..." Al expresses concern that Burns might
have been followed to the meeting. (text should be retranscribed:
Al refers to his needing to know that business has been "taken
care of." This could be a reference to the investigation
of Burns or Burns's capabilities as a potential employee of Al.)
A70 Al: "Well with your fuckin' brains, obviously
you could plan something like that." This remark demonstrates
that murder is common place in Al's operation and his interest
in improving their murder strategies.
A86 Burns: " he found out who I was, and he
went through all his connections, and just checked me out right?"
"See if I was gonna turn you in, then I, assume that it's
done, in fact this guy goes, and he's reading about me alright,
and he checks with the RCMP and" "...He checked with
whoever, and he, he does his research and he reads about me,
alright." Burns states that he feels he could not make a
secret deal with the police because Al would immediately be informed.
A87-88 Burns states that he believed that the car theft
was something much more dangerous than a car theft. He considered
the idea that there might be corpses in the trunk of the car
and that he was being "set up." Gary remarks that "
it took a lot of guts right now to fuckin' tell me that, not
knowing that if you say that there's always that potential, shit
hits the fan ...knowing what I've done in the past...."
Gary refers to Burns knowing that Gary has murdered people in
the past and it is clear that the potential to which he refers
is that Gary might have responded to Burns's disclosure by murdering
Burns.
A88 Burns: "Obviously he's gonna have enough
in his books to figure how to get back at me, right... if I fuckin'
him up in some way, obviously he's gonna, you know, screw me
up in the biggest way..."
A91 Burns states that he noticed that the stolen
car was one obviously used by a parent with children.
A11/53 Al: "Gary's fuckin', a fuckin' solid man,
cost me fuckin' weighty grand to get that fuckin' guy out of
fuckin' jail for different reasons. Why I got him out that's
fine. He was in a fuckin' ja-, I'm, that's fine he was worth
. . . fuckin' not a penny. Not a fuckin' day not a dime."
(Al is referring presumably to the murder of the informant Gary
describes in A27)
A16/53 Al: "Murder in this fuckin' city every day.
Gary I trust that cunt with a fuckin' ah-, my life."
A18/53 Al: "Like I told you cost me eighty fuckin'
grand to get him outta fuckin' jail, but I don't get two fuck's
if it cost me two hundred fuckin' grand. What the fuck, he'll
make me fuckin'-, in my lifetime, ten times that amount."
A21/53 Al : "Sebastian don't start fuckin' trying
to think like I do. I've lived and died this way, you're motive
is more than sixty thousand dollars on a house."
B18 Miyoshi asks Burns how careful they should be
about divulging information revealing their personal identities.
Burns remarks that Al and Gary have the resources to know precisely
who they are and could access any information associated with
their names in the public domain.
B67 Al: " . ..now this-this is no time to play
games. Right now it's costin' me money."
B71 Burns: "...I just assume that... you with
your connections and... whatever, and all of your money and power
and stuff..." Burns proceeds to explain his belief that
Al would kill him if Burns displeased him and that even in jail
he could be killed by Al.
B89 Al: "I'm here 'cause I think I can fuckin'
make money out of you, That's (sic) why I'm fuckin' here, don't
ever get that confused with something right now it's financial
with me." Burns's life is of no inherent value to Al.
D3 Gary describes himself assaulting the man who
was one day late with his payment and says that he told the man
that "uh next time it happened I'd chop his fuckin' uh,
old lady's hand off. And fuckin uh, 'til you paid she fuckin'
sittin' there bleeding."
D5 Gary: "Yeah some guy waiting on the side
of the road (LAUGHING INDECIPHERABLE)". In the indecipherable
portion Gary describes a man as bleeding after being assaulted
because of Burns's error in counting the money.
D7 Gary says that he believes he broke the jaw
of the man whom he assaulted.
D10 Gary: "Yeah he had a fuckin' attitude.
But not anymore, man."
D27 Al remarks that even in
legitimate business practice he would intimidate any competitors
from depriving him of his business. Back
to key
17. BURNS'S FEAR OF AL AND
GARY
A21 Burns: "My reason for, for sort of doing
it is, is more because uh I, I guess I worry uh like being tough
with you guys."
A22 Burns (about the auto-theft): "'...I mean
like, I'm a little worried about that but uh, you know the girl,
well first hand and, and who knows what'll come of it...."
A26 Gary says that when he proposed the auto theft
to Burns "you looked like you were gonna shit when Al said
this is what we're doin'..."
A43 Gary: 'I... when I saw you on that fuckin' uh,
on who's uh car? That's uh, I think you were gonna fuckin' shit.
I thought holy fuck, big mistake here."
A65 Burns: "...I was anxious, 'cause I didn't,
I didn't really know everything that was going on...", regarding
the auto theft.
A85 Burns explains that he took Gary's license plate
number "Because that was back when I was really scared."
A88 Burns states that he had considered the possibility
that there were corpses in the back of the car. Back
to key
18. AL's RESEARCH INTO BURNS
The significance of Al's research
is that it shows the extent of Al's concern that Burns's charges
may threaten Al, as it is urgent enough for Al to expend time
and money and to use his underworld resources. It reveals that
this concern is the sole reason for Burns's having been summoned
to the Four Seasons Hotel on May 6 and for the precise manner
of Al's and Gary's treatment of him. It reveals that Al's conviction
of Burns's guilt existed before the May 6 meeting, and also his
attendant fear that Burns might be arrested and inform on Al.
It also, incidentally, reveals that Al's resources include confidential
police information. This section also includes excerpts which
demonstrate Burns's belief, stemming from before the May 6 meeting,
that Al would have researched Burns and had the resources to
do so.
A69 Al: "What's this triple homicide about?
I think I know about it anyway, but you tell me."
Burns: "You probably heard about it, or read about it."
Al: "Yeah."
A77 Al: "And from what
everything I've read about you, and I've read about you. I've
read about you lots in the last fuckin' week. Cause I made a
point of finding out about you. You know something, that's why
you're here tonight, cause I've read about you, I've read about
you."
A78 Burns states that at the time of the auto theft
he believed that Al and Gary had done research on him.
A84 Al: "I did a little fuckin' checking, some
research, whatever, found, ut lots about you. And uh, I don't
know, I found out a lot." "But, I you want, we can
do some checks in the states for you, for fuck all. You don't
have to do anything."
A85 Burns: "Well in that case if you, auh,
do your checks, I wouldn't mind auh, knowing what's going on."
Gary: "We're gonna [do] them anyway."
A86 Burns states that he believes Al has done checks
with his "connections" and with the RCMP.
A11/53 Al mentions that Gary does not know what Al
found out about Burns this week. He describes Gary as being a
little shocked by the discovery of the allegations.
A16/53 Al " I heard a
lot about you." He then indicates that he wants Burns as
a personal crime servant who will perform services for Al exclusively.
A20-21/53 Al : "Be candid with me and tell
me why you did it. And I can fuckin'-, sure like to find out.
But the last thing I-, is go askin' questions blindly."
"No but I-I don't want to question blindly."
A31/53 Al: (sic - should be upper case "CT"
- no preceding text) " 'cause if I wanna fuckin' find out
I'll pay money to find out."
A36-37/53 Al refers to articles that he's read.
A37/53 Al: "Well you're here to fuckin' day because
of what I read in . . . I told you that day."
B62 Al states that he has confidential police reports
detailing forensic evidence believed by the police to be incriminating
to Burns.
B67 Al: "he's made inquiries down there. Or
he's asked to see a certain file..." "Right now its
costin' me money."
B117 Al: " . ..one phone call and I can say
fuckin' forget about everything and I'm walking out of here an
so are they are. Or so, maybe because they're already involved
I still gotta pay them off, that's my fuckin' big man."
(in reference to the police infiltrator)
C9 Al produces a (fake) confidential police document,
provided by his informant.
< <
< Chronological Master List of Significant Entries (page one) | > > >(page
two)
Introduction
and key to these entries
| Main Rafay/Burns page
|
Truth can never be
told so as to be understood, and not be believ'd. William Blake, The Proverbs of Hell
