ST. CATHARINES FAMILY SEEKS JUSTICE
Attorney General says Crown’s action against Peeping Tom “responsible”
(Queen’s Park) – Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, MPP Christine Elliott (Whitby-Oshawa) questioned the Attorney General yesterday regarding the inappropriate decision of one of his Senior Crown Attorneys.
Patricia Marshall’s young neighbour was caught on videotape engaging in sexual indiscretions while watching her daughter undressing from outside her bedroom window.
A Senior Crown Attorney dropped a charge of sexual harassment against Marshall’s neighbour and instead suggested that the young man seek therapy.
The Senior Crown Attorney later wrote to Ms. Marshall apologizing for failing to advise her that he had dropped the charge, breaching a requirement of the Crown policy manual.
“Attorney General, what do you have to say to Ms. Marshall?” asked Elliott yesterday morning in the Legislature.
Elliott stated that the Marshall family feels that they have been abandoned by the legal system.
“We did everything right, we did everything we were told to do as far as providing for our own safety. The police did everything right. The system was doing what it was supposed to do right up until the Crown Attorney’s Office,” said Mrs. Marshall.
“This is unacceptable in Ontario,” said Elliott, “Forced to shower in their basement, they are still living in fear.”
PC Critic to the Attorney General, MPP Ted Chudleigh (Halton) asked, “Is it okay to live in fear in Ontario now?”
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For more information:
Christine Elliott, MPP Ted Chudleigh, MPP
905-430-1141 416-325-5747
BACKGROUNDER
Quotes From the Marshall Family
“We did everything right, we did everything we were told to do as far as providing for our own safety. The police did everything right. The system was doing what it was supposed to do right up until the Crown Attorney’s Office.”
--- Patricia Marshall
“I feel invaded. I’m 20 years old, I like to tan but now I can’t do anything in my backyard. I can’t bring my dog Hershey out in the backyard. I have to walk her around the block. I just don’t understand why it’s taking so long to stop what shouldn’t have happened.”
-- Lindsay Marshall
“I wonder what the Attorney General would say if it was his children that were being peeped on?”
-- Lindsay Marshall
“Why are people continuing to stick up for him? I don’t understand why anyone in their right mind would think this is okay.”
-- Lindsay Marshall
“I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to see the guy who watched me take a bath, saw me watching TV and laughing or getting emotional reading a book. I don’t want to see the guy who has seen every aspect of me.”
-- Courtney Marshall
“I cannot conceive how someone could send him back next door. I don’t want to see him.”
-- Courtney Marshall
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