Extradition, Dec. 16, 2004 | Ralph Crompton: Pants on fire!

Turenne fights to get murder trial in Canada

Daniel Lett, Winnipeg Free Press 11/12/2001

LAWYERS for a Winnipeg woman who faces extradition to Florida to face charges she murdered her husband have asked federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan to seize jurisdiction over the case and hold the trial in Canada.

Monique Turenne was indicted in Florida for the 1996 beating death of her husband, Canadian Armed Forces Maj. David Turenne. She is currently in Winnipeg fighting a deportation order.

In an unusual legal manoeuvre, Turenne's lawyers will argue the federal Justice Department should have assumed jurisdiction for the case because the victim was a member of the Canadian military and because his wife was charged with the crime.

Tony Dalmyn, who is defending Turenne along with criminal lawyer Greg Brodsky, said U.S. military police did some preliminary investigation in Florida, and it is believed Canadian military police carried out an investigation of their own. Furthermore, Turenne was not arrested and charged with the crime until after she returned to Winnipeg.

"We have a Manitoba victim, we have a Manitoba suspect involved in what is allegedly a Manitoba domestic dispute," Dalmyn said. "Why can't Manitoba try it?"

The murder case is the stuff of pulp novels. David Turenne, on assignment at a U.S. Air Force base in Panama City, Fla., was found beaten to death in the driveway of their suburban bungalow on Feb. 9, 1996. Police were unable to find any evidence pointing to the murderer or motive for the crime. No murder weapon has been found. Five days after the murder, Monique Turenne returned to Winnipeg on a military aircraft with her children and husband's body.

A week after David Turenne's body was found, and acting on a tip from an acquaintance of Monique's, police arrested retired U.S. Air Force Sgt. Ralph Crompton and charged him with the murder. Crompton claimed to have had an affair with Monique Turenne. Crompton, now serving life in a Florida prison for the murder, said he was lured to the Turenne home on the night of the murder but it was Monique who bludgeoned David Turenne with a hammer.

The night before David Turenne's funeral, as Panama City police were arresting Crompton, Winnipeg police interrogated Monique Turenne. Police later released a statement in which she confessed to the affair but not the murder. Turenne would later claim that statement was fabricated by police.

Turenne now denies any sexual relationship with Crompton. In an interview with the Free Press last year, Turenne said the night David was murdered, she and her sons were held hostage by an unknown man with a pony tail. She had never revealed this scenario to police in Florida or Winnipeg before it was published in the Free Press.

The suggestion the trial be moved to Canada has been decried by David Turenne's family. Pat Turenne, David's sister, said the strategy is nothing more than the latest in a series of a desperate attempts to delay extradition.

Turenne said McLellan's unwillingness to honour Canada's extradition treaty with the United States is shattering her family's faith in the Canadian justice system. "How long are they going to allow this to continue?" she said.

Dalmyn said Canadian military law includes provisions for Canada to hold a trial -- either before a military tribunal, or civil court -- under these circumstances. Because the crime was committed in 1996, it is no longer possible to try the case before a military tribunal because of a three-year statute of limitation.

The federal government usually wants to try its military representatives at home, even if the crime was committed abroad, Dalmyn said. Furthermore, it is unclear why the federal government would waste time and money to enforce an extradition order when it would have been much simpler, and perhaps less expensive, to hold the trial in Canada, he added.

Although Monique Turenne in no way admits guilt for the murder, or wishes to face these charges, she would rather see the case unfold in the Canadian justice system because publicity surrounding the case may prevent her from getting a fair trial in Florida, Dalmyn said.

Truth can never be told so as to be understood, and not be believ'd.
William Blake, The Proverbs of Hell

Truth suppress'd, whether by courts or crooks, will find an avenue to be told. Sheila Steele, injusticebusters.com

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Monique Turenne

Extradition order comes down: 2003

The incredible persecution of Monique Turenne previous

Nov. 2002: Monique Turenne's father writes to Law Enforcement Review Agency

Beyond a coerced confession

injusticebusters gets a letter from Winnipeg Police Chief

Monique Turenne has been denied disclosure of material which would assist her in fighting extradition. The law regarding disclosure in criminal cases had been clearly laid out in Stinchcombe. Extradition law is not so clear -- and not so fair. In the coming weeks injusticebusters will clearly explain the differences -- and show why the law must change.

Monique Turenne speaks out for the first time

Dan Lett wrote a week-end feature in the Winnipeg Free Press, May, 2000. This story, almost three years old is the most thorough investigation of the murder of David Turenne. We have it on the following four pages: Part 1: a | b Part 2: a | b

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 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)

The gutter press has continued to feed on the lies originally planted by Florida police with eager co-operation of Winnipeg Police Detective Sergeant Loren Schinkel (now head of the Winnipeg Police Association) and fueled by in-laws looking for ju$tice.

James Driskell | 2003: Tokarchuk killing in Winnipeg (a case which shows how a few bad cops, a powerful -- and misguided -- police union and lack of communication within the force can be a deadly mix)