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Restoring reputations to the defamed -- Telling the truth about the undefamable

November 8, 2003  
   
As we uncovered negligence and malice in Saskatoon's police station and prosecutor's office, similar bad investigations leading to wrongful convictions have turned up in other cities. Winnipeg is one.

From Dan Lett's May 6, 2000 investigative report: . . .the statement taken by Winnipeg police when she returned for David's funeral. Monique claims the two detectives interrogating her made up a confession and forced her to sign it. She claims she wrote "I do not believe any of this" on the hand-written version of the police statement. While there is little to substantiate her allegations of coercion by police, the statement she gave them is unreliable.

Monique's statement was not tape recorded. Normally, when police compose a suspect statement by hand, the text appears as a large block; officers write down the suspect's words as best they can and then give the suspect the opportunity to look it over and make changes. Then the suspect signs the statement. A statement of this kind is not a verbatim account but a paraphrase, using as much of the suspect's own words as possible. The rationale for this approach is that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to record an interrogation by hand in verbatim form. . . .

Monique Turenne had never heard of this statement until an extradition hearing in 1998 when a Manitoba Crown attorney representing Florida read from a copy. The originals are apparently in Florida.

 

2| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Back to main Monique Turenne page

Dan Lett's Winnipeg Free Press, May, 2000 feature: Part 1: a | b Part 2: a | bSchinkel provided the Florida Court with an affidavit backing up this statement. Read the letter of Monique's father which gives a markedly different account.

 

Interesting diversion: Is Loren Schinkel's and Jim Thiessen's creation a "forgery" or a "false document?" Read Ontario case R. v. MacMillan to help you decide.

 

Estradition: December 2004

Monique Turenne: the headlines

1996, June 19: AP, Panama City, Fla.-- Turenne to face more charges?
1996, Oct. 12: AP, Panama City, Fla.-- Confession Detailed: Police say Turenne killing admitted
1996, Oct. 16: Winnipeg Free Press -- Woman's ex-lover convicted in killing: Widow hopes pain is over | Woman advised not to testify | Winnipeg Sun -- Monique to face trial predicts killer's lawyer: Says Canada will extradite her to Florida 'sooner or later' |
1997, Mar. 20, Winnipeg Free Press -- Turenne indicted in U.S. slaying: Winnipeg woman could face death penalty in husband's murder
1998, June 12: Winnipeg Free Press -- Turenne arrested in 1996 murder: Faces Florida trial in husband's slaying (p.A1) | Turenne to contest extradition warrant
1998, June 13: Winnipeg Free Press -- Turenne gets bail: Extradition decision on Florida murder charges may take year (Front page) | Legal hurdles still ahead for Turenne
1998, October 23: Winnipeg Sun --- Florida hides game plan: lawyer (scanned image of paper)
1998, Nov. 21: Winnipeg Sun -- Judge rules release of statement: Local Turenne interview unprotected
1999, Mar. 27: Winnipeg Free Press -- Extradition law unconstitutional: Turenne's lawyer; Don't breach her rights to fair trial, he pleads
May 5, 2000: Winnipeg Free Press -- A Soldier's Murder by Dan Lett: Part 1a | Part 1b
2001, Nov. 12: Winnipeg Free Press -- Turenne fights to get murder trial in Canada
2001, February 21: Winnipeg Sun-- 'Playing the system': Victim's sister sick of Turenne delays (scanned image of paper)

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