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Death, especially my own, is not something I’ve ever spent time dwelling on. But now, at just 44, mortality clouds my thoughts, even when I’m sleeping.
As the commission moves on with its work, we must remember that Banfield is not an extension of her violent partner; she is a survivor of his violence. Vilifying her will not bring back the 22 people murdered that day.
The public roasting of Amber Heard became an international sport as soon as the rumours of her divorce from Johnny Depp began circulating online in 2016. You might want to brush aside the public’s interest as an investment in celebrity culture, but we urge you to take a closer look, especially if you have youth in your life.
When the Supreme Court of Canada ruled last week that accused persons can raise self-induced extreme intoxication as a defence to certain crimes, including sexual assault, we understood why many would be concerned. Before reading the decisions, we were, too.
In the hours before the worst mass murder in Canadian history, Lisa Banfield was brutally assaulted and held captive by her common-law partner. That she managed to break free and warn Nova Scotia RCMP about the killer’s spree likely prevented the death toll from surpassing the 22 people killed in Portapique on April 18, 2020.