(This
column was published in the North
Shore News on
Mar. 25, 1998)
Of bad B.C.
laws and bagel fights
By Leo Knight
FOLLOWING
media reports concerning twice exonerated North Vancouver
hotelier, Ken Hutchinson, on allegations of sexual assault and
sexual harassment, one of the supposed victims called Hutchinson
last week purporting to be a reporter from the Richmond News.
In
conducting the "interview," the accuser, who still
cannot be identified by court order, tried to elicit information
from Hutchinson relative to his plans for herself and the two
other "victims."
Specifically, she was concerned whether Hutchinson would seek a civil redress for the wrongs he suffered at their hands.
She also seemed particularly worried about the incipient WCB investigation into their unfounded claims.
Last
week, it was reported in this space that WCB has provided over
$250,000 in claims and health costs for the three
"victims." This column also reported that WCB would be
investigating the claims as a result of letters of complaint
filed by Hutchinson and his legal counsel.
After
politely answering the questions of the intrepid reporter,
Hutchinson received a second call from the "reporter"
a short while later, in which she tearfully admitted her true
identity and pleaded with Hutchinson not to go after her.
Once
identified, the woman did her best to distance herself from the
two other discredited complainants, in the hope that Hutchinson
would only go after them and not her.
Talk
about cheek!
These
three women, thoroughly discredited by, first, the BC Supreme
Court, then again after a 17-day Human Rights hearing, tried to
destroy Hutchinson's life, and very nearly succeeded.
Now
one of them is masquerading as a reporter to try and determine
if she might have to pay for the lies. She then reduced herself
to pleading with the very man she unjustly accused not to hold
her to account.
Unbelievable
as this story is, the tape recording of the conversation tells
the tale. The woman is bordering on an emotional breakdown. That
much seems obvious.
One
really has to question how this case got to the stage of charges
in the first place. Let alone how millions of taxpayer dollars
were wasted in the investigation and prosecution of a man who's
only sin was to be a business owner, a good looking man with
money, a playboy and therefore a target for women with ulterior
motives.
Sexual
assault and sexual harassment have no place in our society.
Having said that, it is also a very disturbing allegation to
make against anyone.
The
Rachel Marsden/Liam Donnelly case at SFU screams out as an
example of what happens when the system arbitrarily assumes the
female complainant is telling the truth from the outset and the
man must be guilty.
While
it is important to diligently investigate the allegation itself,
it is incumbent upon the agency conducting the inquiry to
investigate all facets of the initial complaint for veracity and
corroboration.
In
any case where there is no more evidence than "she said, he
said," all elements of the statements must be checked
thoroughly. To do less, as in the Hutchinson case, is to risk
destroying a man's reputation, hard to build and even harder to
re-build.
This
is a case of political correctness gone mad. The woman speaks
and the man therefore must be guilty. Throw in a healthy dose of
good looks, money and a snappy car and the matter is proved.
If
only the system was as diligent in going after the low-lifes who
continually commit offence after offence and get waltzed through
the revolving door of what passes for justice in this province.
*
* *
You
really have to love politicians.
Just
when you think they have reached new lows in ludicrousness, up
steps another one to further erode any vestige of respect the
public might have left. Look at the happenings in Ottawa last
week for proof.
B.C.
Senator Pat Carney seems driven to toss away whatever
credibility she may have earned in her storied career.
In
Ottawa, at the hotel frequented by senators and non-resident
MPs, Carney threw a wobbler when she found out she couldn't have
non-fat bagels with the free breakfast provided by the Citadel
hotel. She wrote to all the senators suggesting they back her up
in this noble cause.
CBC's
This Hour has 22 Minutes, predictably spoofed the
incident which led to the irascible senator calling the show
and, "screaming and yelling like a crazy person,"
according to producer Gerald Lunz.
Carney,
evidently freshly energized from a recent graze, apparently
wanted the Citadel to provide low-fat choices on their
complimentary menu for the politicos already on the public tab.
Complained
Carney, "38% of deaths in Canada are attributed to heart
disease and I don't want to be one of them."
Excuse
me Senator, but have you nothing better to do than to write over
300 letters, on Senate letterhead I might add, and make
complaining phone calls to a satirical TV show?
Sorry. I forgot you're a senator. Dumb question.
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