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Monique Turenne
Slowly, but surely, Monique
Turenne's team moves towards getting the truth into the open
- No disclosure has been
given to Turenne and her counsel, Greg Brodsky
- Crown prosecutor Frayer
doesn't have any disclosure, either
- In Extradition proceedings,
the International Assistance Group has acted as liaison between
the Florida authorities and the Canadian government.
- This group of federally
paid lawyers hold in their hands all the information which would
show that Turenne's Florida indictment was based on information
sworn by Winnipeg cop Loren Schinkel
- Feds accused of derailing
extradition appeal
- Lawyer says requests
for documents refused
By Mike McIntyre, Winnipeg
Free Press, December 23, 2003
Lawyers for a Winnipeg woman,
awaiting extradition to Florida on charges she murdered her husband
in 1996, say the painstaking process is further delayed by the
Canadian government. Greg Brodsky, who acts for Monique Turenne,
said the federal Justice Department has repeatedly refused to
hand over key documents involving an appeal of his client's case.
The Manitoba Court of Appeal
will hear a motion in February on the disclosure issue, which
is further delaying the never-ending legal saga.
"We are trying to get
this going. We are not trying to delay," said Brodsky.
Turenne has steadfastly denied
any role in the eight-year-old murder of her husband, Canadian
air force major David Turenne, who was found beaten to death
in the driveway of their Panama City, Fla., bungalow.
He was on assignment with the
U.S. Air Force at the time.
Turenne was ordered extradited
to Florida by Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench in October 1999.
Her lawyers immediately appealed the decision to both Manitoba
Court of Appeal and then-federal justice minister Anne McLellan.
After more than three years
of uncertainty, former justice minister Martin Cauchon finally
signed the extradition order in March.
The order was granted after
Cauchon received written confirmation Turenne would not face
the death penalty if convicted, a requirement recently upheld
in a ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Turenne's lawyers said they
would move immediately to appeal both Cauchon's decision and
the original extradition order to Manitoba Court of Appeals.
But Brodsky said the appeal
process has been derailed by interference from the Canadian government.
He has been refused access
to certain documents pertaining to the police investigation of
Turenne's death and communication between the Manitoba, Canadian
and American governments, according to his motion.
Brodsky has argued 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.
He demanded Turenne be tried
in Canada, an assertion Cauchon rejected.
David Turenne was found beaten
to death in the driveway of their suburban bungalow on February
9, 1996.
Police were unable to find
any evidence pointing to the murderer or motive for the crime.
No murder weapon has been found.
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, now serving life
in a Florida prison for the murder, said during his trial he
was lured to the Turenne home on the night of the murder, but
it was Monique who bludgeoned David Turenne with a hammer.
mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca
Long delay
in extradition case blamed on Ottawa
The Canadian Press, December
24, 2003
WINNIPEG -- Lawyers for a Winnipeg
woman accused of murdering her husband in Florida in 1996 say
the extradition process is being unnecessarily delayed by the
Canadian government.
Greg Brodsky, who acts for
Monique Turenne, said the federal Justice Department has repeatedly
refused to hand over key documents involving an appeal of his
client's case.
The Manitoba Court of Appeal
is to hear a motion in February on the disclosure issue, which
is further delaying an already lengthy legal saga.
"We are trying to get
this going," said Brodsky.
"We are not trying to
delay."
Turenne has steadfastly denied
any role in the murder of her husband David, a Canadian air force
major, who was found beaten to death outside their bungalow in
Panama City, Fla.
He was on assignment with the
U.S. air force at the time.
Turenne was ordered extradited
to Florida by Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench in October 1999.
Her lawyers immediately appealed
the decision to both the Manitoba Court of Appeal and the federal
justice minister.
After more than three years
of uncertainty, former justice minister Martin Cauchon finally
signed the extradition order in March. The order was granted
after Cauchon received written confirmation that Turenne would
not face the death penalty if convicted, a requirement recently
upheld in a Supreme Court of Canada ruling.
Turenne's lawyers said they
would move immediately to appeal both Cauchon's decision and
the original extradition order to the Manitoba Court of Appeal.
But Brodsky said the appeal
process has been derailed by interference from the Canadian government.
His motion asserts he has been
refused access to certain documents pertaining to the police
investigation of David Turenne's death and communication between
the Manitoba, Canadian and U.S. governments. © Copyright
2003 The Province
July, 2003: Ralph Crompton's
appeal has been denied, the decision based largely on the fact
that he is an incorrigible liar. It was Crompton who implicated
Monique Turenne. Crompton also raised the matter of "Diablo,"
which lends great credibility to Monique Turenne's claim that
she and her son Danny were terrorized by a "pony-tailed
man" the night of the murder. She did not reveal this information
to Schinkel during his ruthless interrogation because she was
genuinely scared of this man who told her to keep her mouth shut
or he would kill her children. Although that part of the case
is cold, there are still avenues of investigation which would
almost surely lead to the interjurisdictional underworld inhabited
by David Turenne. (Those jurisdictions include several U.S. states,
Quebec and possibly other Canadian provinces and the military
on both sides of the border.)
Monique Turenne
speaks out for the first time
March 31, 2003
Chief J.J. Ewatski Winnipeg
Police Service 151, Princess Street Winnipeg, MB R3B 1L1
Dear Sir:
I have read your letter
addressed to Ms. Sheila Steele dated March 20, 2003 which
was posted on the injusticebusters website.
It goes without saying that,
as Chief and supervisor of the Winnipeg Police Service, you felt
compelled to voice your opinion and your subordinates' innocence.
You also questioned the fairness of posting any allegations of
wrongdoing against Mr. Schinkel and Sergeant Thiessen in my case.
What is unfair in this case
are the following:
a) That I had endured approximately
9 1/2 hours of intense interrogation, threats and ridicule at
the hands of two experienced detectives who knowingly brought
me in under false pretence, held me against my will, refused
my rights to a lawyer (actually Schinkel laughed when he noted
that my lawyer was in Florida and couldn't/wouldn't be there
in time), and threatened to lock me up if I didn't immediately
sign their statement.
b) That I wrote only one sentence
on the hand-written statement, 'I don't believe any of this'.
Schinkel and Thiessen were not impressed by my insistence and
stubbornness to prove my innocence and time was running out.
When I refused to sign the hand-written statement, I was once
again threatened to be locked up until I did so, thereby missing
my husband's funeral. Exhausted and at my wits end, I 'printed'
my name instead. Again your officers were taken aback by my act
of defiance. At one of the extradition hearings, a typed police
statement was presented. Needless to say that this 'rewritten'
version did not include my one sentence nor was the signature
the same. Your two officers took it upon themselves to rewrite
their version minus my one sentence and forge my signature. Unfortunately
for them, their version of events can and will be proven fabricated.
c) That my father, Jean-Emile
PaillÇ, called the Winnipeg Police (Princess Street) at
two different times during the early morning hours of February
15th wanting to know my whereabouts and when I would be returned.
At 5:00 a.m., he presented himself at your office. Sergeant Thiessen
greeted him and assured him that I would return home shortly.
At no time did Sergeant Thiessen indicate to my father that I
was locked in an interrogation room against my will. My father
would have acted differently had Sergeant Thiessen given him
any reason to suspect police wrongdoing. Sergeant Thiessen deliberately
lied to my father in order to secure more time for my confession
(I still hadn't signed their statement) and to avoid him contacting
a lawyer. This on-going police practice of forceful confessions
has resulted in many wrongful charges and convictions. Your two
officers overstepped their legal boundaries by utilising the
Reid Technique and deliberately lying to my father.
d) That Mr. Schinkel and Sergeant
Thiessen took two (2) police statements from my abusive ex-husband,
Henry Thorimbert. That these two statements, taken days apart,
contradict each other. In January 2003, Mr. Thorimbert advised
our son that he never gave, signed a second police statement.
He denies having met the Winnipeg Police on February 14th. He
indicated that same either doesn't exist or that the Winnipeg
Police forged his signature. Mr. Thorimbert is either denying
same as he realizes that he committed perjury (his 2nd statement
can be proven false) OR the Winnipeg Police knowingly took a
fabricated and false 2nd statement from an abusive ex-husband
OR the Winnipeg Police forged his signature. In any case, the
Winnipeg Police did not act in good faith and will be held accountable.
Although these statements don't form part of the extradition
request, these were to be used at trial. The authorities thought
to use Mr. Thorimbert's statement in establishing motive of financial
gain in case their 'affair' theory failed.
e) Mr. Schinkel swore in his
affidavit that WO Pierre Raymond of National Defence requested
the Winnipeg Police interrogate me. This was confirmed untrue
by many sources, including Dan Lett of the Winnipeg Free Press.
When further investigated, the Winnipeg Police changed their
story. They admitted that quote, 'It must have been the military
police who requested same' unquote. Again this was proven false.
Note that the Winnipeg Police refused to answer any further questions
in this matter. They had been caught in their lies. As the Florida
authorities had no authority to question me without my US lawyer,
the Winnipeg Police were asked to do so. The Winnipeg Police
removed me from my parents' home under false pretence, thereby
avoiding the Miranda legalities. In their creative approach,
no one would suspect their wrongdoing and no lawyer would be
contacted. This further confirms that Mr. Schinkel signed a perjured
affidavit in his description of the events of February 14th 1996.
f) That Madame Justice Steel
ordered my extradition based on Loren Schinkel's affidavit and
the rewritten Winnipeg Police statement.
Schinkel and Thiessen have
acted inappropriately throughout this case. Their actions and
wrongdoings were brought up at the Extradition hearings. Unfortunately,
I have no rights under the present Extradition Law and Madame
Justice Steel would not examine our evidence or order disclosure/voir
dire. I am fighting to change said Law and have the trial held
in Winnipeg. A Winnipeg trial will certainly expose this injustice
and the Winnipeg Police misconduct.
Winnipeg Police Service has
since refused to answer any questions in my case. Although nothing
further has been done since their wrongdoings of February 1996,
their reason has always been, quote 'There an on-going investigation.'
unquote. Nothing has been done on this case since their wrongdoings
in February 1996.
Ralph Crompton was convicted
of 1st degree murder in the death of my husband. His version
of events was not only proven unbelievable, but IMPOSSIBLE. He
has undertaken numerous appeals and failed. In 2001, he again
appealed and finally introduced a new suspect. ('Diablo' was
also brought forth in the Winnipeg Free Press exclusive article
in 2000. One of Ralph Crompton's friends was also asked to find
'Diablo' days after Crompton's arrest.) This declaration, which
inches towards the truth, was never investigated by the Florida
authorities or the Winnipeg Police. Needless to say that a new
suspect would only complicate matters and question the authenticity
of my alleged Winnipeg Police statement and the negligent investigation
by both police departments.
Although you were not Chief
of Police in 1996, you have been aware of this case. When a citizen
of Winnipeg lodges a complaint against a member of the police
force, it is your duty to investigate same. My father wrote you
a letter in September 2001 detailing some of the discrepancies
and wrongful actions of Mr. Schinkel and Sergeant Thiessen. You
didn't even bother to respond.
My case, along with other cases,
is exposed on injusticebusters.com. This website serves to bring
forth instances of injustices and wrongdoings by the authorities.
Your officers have had many opportunities to answer for their
actions, but have either refused or hidden between the curtains
of justice in this extradition case. Their misconduct and lack
of professionalism in manifesting evidence has contributed to
dire consequences in my case. Remember they are not the victims
of malicious prosecution or manufactured cases: they are the
perpetrators.
Rest assured that this matter
will not disappear. Police wrongdoings are of public concern.
The Winnipeg Police Service will be required to answer for their
actions. Yours truly,
Monique Turenne
CC : Mr. Greg Brodsky Injusticebusters.com
Joyce Milgaard/AIDWYC Dan Lett - Winnipeg Free Press
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 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
Publisher Sheila
Steele
- co-founder: Richard Klassen
New:
injusticebustersblog. Participate!
Monique
Turenne pages
Extradition
order comes down: 2003
The incredible persecution
of Monique Turenne previous
UPDATE: The
Extradition process | Reports
from trial in Florida | Ralph
Crompton: Pants on fire!
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
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. Winnipeg
Sun, October, 1988 | Winnipeg
Sun, February, 2001 |
Headlines with links to the stories | Return
to previous page
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)
 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)
Disinformation about her was
in the community where she lives before she knew it existed:
- an "affair" she
can prove never happened, concocted by the equivalent of a jailhouse
informant (a man facing conviction and death and possibly innocent
himself);
- rumours she stood to gain
huge sums of money as a motive when in fact she returned to the
estate the $128.000 (minus legal fees) and has received only
$409 a month from Canada Pension Plan for the six years since
David's death.
- Reports of her candid statements
about her marital troubles distorted into wishing him dead
- Reports she had tried to get
a gun from a source who could be easily impeached. (Guns can
be purchased at many stores in Panama City.)
Monique Turenne has been indicted
by a grand jury in Florida on a circumstantial case which she
has no opportunity to answer.
The US. media continue to run
with the lies told by convicted murderer Ralph Crompton. There
was blood evidence against him. He has been caught in dozens
of lies.
Combine his lies with the lies
of Winnipeg cop Loren Schinkel and maybe we have a Guiness world
record for the two biggest liars ever involved in attempting
to frame an innocent person.
There is not now nor ever has
been a single shred of evidence that Monique Turenne killed her
husband . . . except the testimony of these two liars.
The Panama City newspapers
have also played into the hands of Monique Turenne's greedy in-laws
who have repeatedly stated on talk-radio and to the gutter press
that Monique Turenne profitted from her husband's death.
In fact, Pat Turenne, as executrix
of the will, is having some trouble accounting for some of the
funds and the fact that she did not settle claimes against the
estate in timely fashion.
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