|
Robert Stewart
continued
from
_______________________
Dave Dunbar . .
Michel Giroux, the deceased,
was a small time drug dealer who sold drugs at the Carlsbad Springs
Show Bar and out of his home in Cumberland. He sold 1/4 and 1/2
grams of cocaine mostly to local patrons. After his body was
found, the police quickly learned of his drug dealing and his
associates at the Carlsbad Springs Hotel. All of his close friends,
who would be in a position to know, claims that Michel Giroux
supplier was a man named Dave Dunbar. Mr. Dunbar was an Outlaw
Motorcycle gang member. It is apparent from an ongoing undercover
drug operation at the hotel that he and his associated kept watch
over who sold drugs there and likely gave Giroux permission to
do so.
According to at least one close
friend Giroux, just prior to his death, expressed concerns about
owing Dunbar money. According to another, Giroux was concerned
that Dunbar thought he was a police informant and Giroux, therefore,
had been staying away from the Hotel. Again it is evident from
the parallel drug investigation that Dunbar
was very aggressive with those he suspected of being police or
informants in the bar.
There are several witness, as well, who dealt drugs for Dunbar
in the past at the Carlsbad Springs Hotel, and who built up a
small debt to Dunbar who were physically assaulted, threatened
and/or run out of town by Dunbar.
The investigation continues
from January 19, 1990 to Feb. 3, 1990 when Mr. Gaudreault first
became involved with the police. Once the police had spoken with
him, the size of the investigative team was cut and the focus
shifted to Robert Stewart and his associates. That is where it
has remained.
When the defence raised concern
and questions about Dunbar and other suspects around the Carlsbad
Springs Hotel or known to associate with the deceased, the police
would occasionally go back out to re-interview some of the witnesses
-- usually three or four years after the fact and usually with
a view to trying to get them to connect the four accused with
Giroux in some way.
Mr Dunbar, for instance, was
interviewed once in late January, 1990. He clearly lied to the
police about his involvement with Giroux at the time, but was
not even asked where he was on the night of January 16th or 17th,
1990. Since the defence seemed to be focussing on Mr. Dunbar,
he was interviewed for a second time in 1994. He was told by
the investigator that the police were satisfied that they had
the right quys in custody for these murders, but that the defence
had been asking questions about him.
The investigator explained to Mr. Dunbar that he didn't expect
him to remember where he was that night some four years later
but that he had been sent out to ask him anyways. Mr. Dunbar
told the officer, not surprisingly, that he had no idea where
he was when the victims were shot.
The officer thanked him and noted that it confirmed for him that
Dunbar was telling the truth because if he had known where he
was after so much time had passed, it would be suspicious indeed!
The prosecutors and police
in this case are prepared to go to any length to try to
explain away lies and false evidence by their witnesses and to
provide excuses for them with respect to their current conduct.
There are many, many examples of tunnel vision in this case but
one would need to review the case as a whole to fully appreciate
the single minded determination of the prosecuting team to convict
these men no matter what the costs.
_____________
Denis Gaudreault`s
Stories . . . .
Tuesday January 23 1990
Ottawa Citizen
By Alana Kainz
Autopsies on a man and woman
shot to death in their Cumberland home show the couple was killed
"execution" style Tuesday around 10 pm police said
Monday.
That's one day earlier than
originally suspected said supt Wib Craig of the Ontario Provincial
Police in Toronto.
Michel Grioux, 24 and Manon Bourdeau, 27 who was seven months
pregnant, were found dead Thursday about 5 pm by a neighbour
attempting to deliver a message.
Autopsies show that Grioux,
whose body was found between the kitchen and the bedroom, was
shot in head and chest, Bourdeau was shot in the head. Her body
was discovered on her bed in the bedroom.
The couple was killed by a
shotgun said Graig. He described the shooting as "execution
style," perhaps someone settling a score with the couple.
Both TVs in the house were on when the bodies were found, indicating
they may have been surprised by the attack, said Craig.
Wednesday February 7 1990
A few hours after his sister
told him the police were looking
for him in connection to the murders and were willing to
make a deal,.. he called her back . . ..
Denis:
They "eliminated" the guy , ok, they shot him once
in the
body and once in the head . After that they heard the
television in the room , Ill tell you, the room was at other
end of the living room, they heard a TV . They thought
there wasn't anyone else because they were going to take furniture
and things like that, you know, check for money. Then the c**t
was sleeping in bed and they shot her in the head while she slept.
You can tell that to the bulls ., ( Heather Lamarch ).
She was sleeping when they shot her in the head.
Sylvie:
Well you don't have to call c**ts because frankly I'm a
woman also, uh, and I wouldn't like someone to call me that.
Denis:
Well then the girl was shot in the head while she slept, and
there's no one because even when he came to my place
and told me he said, "I didn't even know that the fu**en
broad was pregnant seven months cause Id never do that.
This newspaper article contains
some
false information that was deliberately planted
by the police in order to weed out false informants.
This is a transcript of a phone
conversation between Denis and his sister. Denis is telling her
about his "Special Info" that only he knows about what
happened. His story also contains the false info
the police planted in the newspaper.
The experts all agree, apparently
not the ones in Canada, that a person who is not being truthful,
will never tell the same story twice, it will keep changing.
Mr. Gaudreault and his many
different versions of his continuing to evolve stories frustrated
the police so much that they actually disposed of evidence
by throwing a gun in the river . . .
It cost the taxpayers thirty
million dollars, for a flawed murder investigation and Mr.Gaudreault`s
lies, to convict four innocent men !
In spite of all the lies, continuing
his criminal activities while in Witness Protection, his constantly
changing story, his fabricated evidence, and the fact that his
"Special Information" contained false information deliberately
released by the police, both the Crown and the police were sure
that Denis had "Special Information" regarding this
case.
During the months of December
1989 and January 1990 Mr. Gaudreault had been on
a cocaine binge, smoking crack cocaine heavily on a daily basis
and running up some large drug debts.
Prior to the murders, Mr. Gaudreault
had already begun planning to leave town.
He deliberately set up a drug deal with some of his customers,
took the money and never delivered the drugs . . . . it was a
rip . . .
Shortly after the murders Mr.
Gaudreault stole an estimated twenty five thousand dollars from
Mr. Stewart and then left town, he would later brag to his sister
that it was actually forty five thousand dollars.
Mr. Gaudreault would soon learn
that you can run . . but you cant hide. Mr. Gaudreault realises
he is in big trouble, he will need to do something soon or his
sister will be forced to sell her house in order to pay for his
drug debts and the money he stole.
Coming Soon !
Here we will demonstrate, in
Mr. Gaudreault`s own words, the evolution of his stories.
Quote:
Denis: (inaudible) ... you know well enough that I'll call you
later in the
week, I'll un, I'll "inform myself about a few things"
and I'll call you back.
End quote:
Later, Denis would make this
statement:
Quote:
Sylvie: Wendy was a friend of you guys. She was your neighbour.
She ..
Denis: That bitch is no f***en friend of mine. I'll tell you
that. And if I had a chance I would have hit that guy for double
if I would have known this was gonna happen.
Sylvie: What guy?
Denis: A little guy. Anyhow. So if you want, I can do that for
you. Tomorrow they just have to be there.
End quote:
One needs to ask the same question
. . .
What Hit ? ?
What Little Guy ? ?
This phone call was made after
Mr. Gaudreault "Informed himself"
All Mr. Gaudreault`s "Special
Information" is contained in this newspaper report. As more
info is released his stories evolve.
Denis Gaudreault
"All my life, I've been
a crook and a thief and a liar and a dope dealer and all that.
Do you think I'm gonna trust the cops the first time around?"
Denis Gaudreault, October 8,
1991.
Preliminary Inquiry.
The Thirty Million Dollar Con
- Job
___________
2. After the arrest of Robert
Stewart on charges of homicide in the deaths of Michel Giroux
and Manon Bourdeau, which occurred on or about the 16th or 17th
day of January 1990, I began a relationship with a gentleman
who showed great interest in myself and
my children. That gentleman was Colin Burrill, and at the time
he was working with the Ontario Provincial Police in an auxiliary
capacity.
While being questioned by the police in connection with her "husbands"
arrest, Linda Beland met an OPP officer.
In April 1991, just four months
after Mr. Stewarts arrest, Linda "Stewart," and her
children, moved in with Colin Burrill. They stayed together until
December 1998.
Mr. Stewart was finally convicted
in February 2000.
Over the years Mr. Burrill
would make reports to the police, concerning Linda Beland.
After helping to raise Linda`s
son Doug for nearly 8 years, Mr. Burrill was absent at both the
funeral and visitation. ( See: Roberts Son Murdered )
______________
AFFIDAVIT OF LINDA BELAND
I, Linda Beland, of the City
of Kempville, in the Province of Ontario,
MAKE OATH AND SAY AS FOLLOWS:
1. I was married to Robert
Stewart, the Appellant, and was his wife or former wife at all
times material to this matter, and as such have a personal knowledge
of those matters hereinto deposed except where stated to be based
on information and belief, and where so stated to be based on
information and belief I verily believe the same to be true.
2. After the arrest of Robert
Stewart on charges of homicide in the deaths of Michel Giroux
and Manon Bourdeau, which occurred on or about the 16th or 17th
day of January 1990, I began a relationship with a gentleman
who showed great interest in myself and my children . That gentleman
was Colin Burrill, and at the time he was working with the Ontario
Provincial Police in an auxiliary capacity.
3. I was interviewed by the
Ontario Provincial Police and by members of the Crown Prosecutor's
office many times during the years following the arrest of Robert
Stewart in relation to the above charges.
4. I cannot remember ever being
asked by any of the many officers that interviewed me in the
many interviews that I participated in about the details of what
occurred that night that I allegedly drove Mr. Denis Gaudreault
from the residence of Robert Stewart and myself to the residence
of Mr. Gaudreault after the killing of Michel Giroux and Manon
Bourdeaux. I was asked if it was possible that I drove him home
but not given any specifics to refresh my memory or otherwise.
5. The first time that I recall
anyone asking me about the details of the allegation that I had
driven Mr. Denis Gaudreault home as indicated in paragraph 4
above was in a telephone conversation with Robert Stewart in
May/June 1999 when Robert Stewart indicated that Mr. Denis Gaudreault
had testified that not only had I driven Denis Gaudreault home
as stated, but that just prior to me giving Denis the ride five
guys were running around in my house like chickens with their
heads cut off. This came as a complete shock to me as none of
it was true. I would have remembered such details of the night
since it was, I believe, supposed to be a school night and I
would have been concern about sleeping children in the house.
I expressed my shock and concern that I had not been informed
that those circumstances were supposed to exist to Robert Stewart
over the phone.
6. I am advised by Robert Stewart
that he tape recorded the May/June 1999 conversation noted in
paragraph 5 above and that he provided that tape to his then
defence counsel, Susan Mulligan. I am also advised that this
tape was never produced as evidence and that it has apparently
been lost or misplaced by Ms. Susan Mulligan.
7. On May 22, 2003, Robert
Stewart again contacted me by telephone to discuss the accusations
that I had knowledge that a murder had been committed and that
I had this knowledge the night that Mr. Denis Gaudreault claims
I drove him home from the residence of Mr. Robert Stewart and
myself on St. Joseph Boulevard in Orleans, Ontario to Hochelaga
Street in Ottawa.
8. That annexed hereto as Exhibit
1 to this affidavit is a transcript of the telephone discussion
between Robert Stewart and myself on May 22 of 2003. The said
transcript has many spelling and grammatical errors but I believe
it to be an accurate record of what was said between Mr. Robert
Stewart and myself.
9. That, as indicated in Exhibit
1, I was surprised by much of the information that Mr. Robert
Stewart provided to me during that telephone conversation. In
all the interviews that were conducted with me, and all the conversations
that I had with Colin Burrill while we lived together between
April 1991 to approximately Christmas 1998, I was never asked
about most of the matters that Robert Stewart discusses with
me in Exhibit 1. No other officers or Crown representatives had
mentioned the details of the night in question at any time to
the best of my recollection.
10. That in on all occasions
in Exhibit 1 that I express surprise the surprise is genuine.
The conversation topics were not discussed with Mr. Robert Stewart
prior to the telephone call May 22, 2003, except during the call
of 1999 as indicated above, and the answers given by myself to
Mr. Stewart in Exhibit 1 are truthful to the best of my knowledge.
11. That there are occasions
that I express my lack of memory of certain circumstances that
have happened in the last 14 years, but most of this is due to
the great number of times I have been spoken to or have had to
answer questions about the circumstances of my relationship with
Robert Stewart and his business dealings while we were married
and living together. Those matters which I do remember I remember
well. Those matters which I do not remember I admit to not having
memory of. There was no attempt at any time during the conversation
in Exhibit 1 that I attempted to fabricate memories of otherwise
pretend that I remembered matters that I did not.
12. That I was married to Robert
Stewart from 1984 to 1992 when the Court granted a divorce from
Robert Stewart. This divorce is now final. Although I harbour
no ill will against Robert Stewart I also do not have any reason
whatsoever to lie or fabricate evidence to assist Robert Stewart.
13. That during the time I
was married to and living with Robert Stewart I had very little
knowledge of Robert Stewart's business dealings. Robert Stewart
often advised me that his business was none of my business and
I did not need to know what was going on. I am certain I would
well remember if there had been discussions of matters concerning
Robert Stewart's business or his business associates in my presence.
14. That I make this affidavit
understanding that it is to be used in support of an application
by Robert Stewart for release on bail pending his appeal and
in other legal proceedings in relation to Robert Stewart or his
other three co-accused, Jim Sauve, Rick Trudel and Rick Mallory.
Sworn before me at the City
of )
In the Province of Ontario )
this day of ,2004. )
Linda Beland
A Commissioner of Oaths
In and for the Province of Ontario
_______________
This was a brutal murder, not
a drug rip, not a robbery. Who ever did this intended on killing
Doug Stewart. He was most likely killed while he slept, the back
of his head was crushed by several blows by what the police suspect
was a tire iron.
Douglas Stewart was only 19
years old when he died. Doug was only 5 years old when his father
was arrested, charged with murder and held in custody for 10
years until his conviction in February 2000.
Doug was planning on moving
back home with his mother in just a few weeks and had
been actively distributing material concerning his fathers Wrongful
Conviction.
Fri, February 20, 2004
Teen's skull crushed.
Friends find bludgeoned body
of son of convicted murderer, dealer
By ANDREW SEYMOUR, Ottawa Sun
THE teenage son of a convicted
murderer and drug dealer was found bludgeoned to death in an
east-end apartment late Wednesday night. The lifeless body of
19-year-old Douglas Stewart was found by a friend at about 11
p.m. in the bedroom of his 15th-floor apartment at 1240 Donald
St.
When the friend arrived, the
front door was unlocked.
Stewart was found lying in
bed, his skull smashed by several blows from a blunt object.
There were no signs of forced entry into the apartment. Police
have not yet determined a motive for the murder and no one is
in custody. They said it doesn't appear anything had been stolen
from the apartment.
It's the city's fourth homicide
of the year.
Stewart's father Robert was
convicted of first-degree murder four years ago in connection
with the 1990 shotgun slayings of drug dealer Michel Giroux and
his common-law wife, Manon Bourdeau, in Cumberland.
Now serving a life sentence
in Collins Bay Penitentiary in Kingston, Robert Stewart says
he was wrongfully convicted and has filed an appeal. Two other
men who were convicted for the same murders have since won their
bid for a new trial after one of the witnesses allegedly recanted
his testimony.
COLLECTION OF CLIPPINGS
Police said yesterday they have no evidence that Douglas Stewart's
murder is connected to his father's crimes, although neighbours
said the youth often showed off a collection of news clippings
about his dad.
"He would say, you don't know who I am? I'm a Stewart,'
" said neighbour Martin Faubert, who lives just down the
hall from Stewart's apartment and saw him frequently. "He
tried to prove who he was."
Stewart dropped out of school
in Grade 9 and didn't have a job. He worked briefly several years
ago for an uncle installing security alarms but gave up the job
after only a few weeks of work. He was on welfare at the time
of his death.
He had been charged with two
counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking,
but those charges were dropped on Jan. 16. He had also been seriously
wounded last summer when he was stabbed in the back during a
robbery at the South Keys transit-way station. Despite the knife
missing his heart by only inches, Stewart refused to co-operate
with police, saying he "didn't trust them."
Relatives said Stewart often
visited his dad at Collins Bay. His most recent visit was about
three weeks ago, when he stayed for the weekend. "I think
he kind of looked up to his dad," said neighbour Kealey
von Tobel, 21.
He is also survived by brother
Raymond and mother Linda.
Faubert said the murder happened
just days before Stewart planned to move out of the high-rise.
"He was trying to get out of here," said Faubert, 20,
adding Stewart gave no indication he was in any sort of trouble.
"He didn't tell us if he owed any money or anything,"
he said.
'NO RUCKUS'
Faubert and his roommates only learned of the murder when police
came by at 1:30 a.m. to ask about names and phone numbers of
people who frequented Stewart's apartment.
While Stewart often hung out
with several other residents of 1240 and 1244 Donald, Faubert
and his roommates said they heard nothing out of the ordinary
Wednesday night. "There was nothing. No ruckus, nothing,"
he said. "If something would have went wrong he would have
run here first. We were just starting to get to know the guy."
Police are still looking for
several of Stewart's friends and associates. Anyone who knew
Douglas Stewart or has information about his murder is asked
to call police at 236-1222, ext. 5184.
Slain teen 'not a bad kid at all'
Murder victim's pals remember
'happy' young man
By LAURA CZEKAJ, Ottawa Sun
DOUGLAS Stewart's life may
have ended violently, but his friends preferred to spend yesterday
remembering happier times. "We were almost all like brothers,"
said Rick "Pat" Laviolette, 28, a childhood friend
of both Stewart and his older brother Raymond. "We went
on vacations together when we were younger and our families spent
a lot of time together."
On Wednesday night, a friend found the 19-year-old bludgeoned
to death in his bed in his 15th-floor apartment at 1240 Donald
St.
Ottawa police major crime investigators
were conducting interviews yesterday. However, no arrests have
been made and the motive for the killing remains unclear. "We
do not believe it is a random act," said Staff Sgt. Monique
Ackland.
Stewart's father Robert is currently serving a life sentence
in Collins Bay Penitentiary in Kingston after being found guilty
of the first-degree murder in 1990 of drug dealer Michel Giroux
and his common-law wife, Manon Bourdeau, in Cumberland.
Robert Stewart has since filed an appeal.
Friends say Stewart was very
close to his dad and visited him in prison at least once a month.
Laviolette said Robert is taking the news of his son's death
extremely hard.
'VERY OUTGOING'
Stewart was also close to his brother Raymond and mother Linda.
Laviolette said the teen was planning on moving out of his apartment
to go stay with his mother and may have had a construction job
lined up. Stewart had dropped out of school in Grade 9. "He
was very outgoing, always happy. He didn't mope around all the
time, he was always in a good mood about things," he said.
When they were younger, Laviolette and the Stewart brothers would
go to the beach, visit the cottage and ride four-wheelers. As
they got older, their pastimes included playing video games,
shooting a game of pool or just "hanging out." "He
is not a bad kid at all," said Laviolette. "When we
were together we never got into trouble, we always had fun together."
Laviolette last saw Stewart when he and Raymond dropped by the
apartment on Sunday.
HELPED OUT PALS
"We just stopped by to see him, see how he was doing,"
he said. "Nothing seemed wrong."
The teen's friends say he was the type of guy who would do anything
to help out a pal.
"He was a very sociable person, easy to approach, liked
by everybody," said a close friend who asked not to be identified.
"The second Doug talks to you, you like him right away."
Anyone who knew Douglas Stewart
or has information about his murder is asked to call police at
236-1222, ext. 5184.
Sat, February 21, 2004
Sun, February 22, 2004
Killer to attend funeral
Granted escorted absence from
jail, will be at service for slain teen son
By ANDREW SEYMOUR, Ottawa Sun
CONVICTED KILLER Robert Stewart
has been granted a temporary escorted absence from prison to
attend his murdered son's funeral in Ottawa tomorrow. Stewart
told the Sun yesterday he will be escorted from the medium-security
Collins Bay Institution in Kingston to mourn with family and
friends after the violent death of his 19-year-old son, Douglas
Stewart.
Douglas was found bludgeoned to death in his bed in his 15th-floor
apartment at 1240 Donald St. late Wednesday night.
Police believe the killer delivered the fatal blows by repeatedly
hitting Douglas in the back of the head with a tire iron. No
one has been arrested in connection with the slaying.
Robert Stewart said he last
saw Douglas about three weeks ago, when they were able to spend
a weekend together in an unsupervised trailer.
PRISON VISIT
"He was here for three days. He wasn't worried about anyone
hurting him," Robert said, adding Douglas seemed to be in
good spirits.
The visit came only days after a pair of drug charges had been
withdrawn against the teen.
"I told him not to bother with the dope," said Robert.
"He told me he wasn't going to."
Robert Stewart, who was sentenced
to life in prison four years ago for the first-degree murder
of drug dealer Michel Giroux and his common-law wife, Manon Bourdeau
in Cumberland in 1990, said Douglas was helping him fight for
an appeal.
Two other men who were convicted in the Cumberland murders have
since won an appeal after a witness allegedly recanted his testimony.
Robert Stewart, who has long claimed he's innocent, has since
filed an appeal and said his experience with police leaves him
wary.
Sgt. Anthony Costantini, now
the lead investigator in the Douglas' murder, also testified
at Robert's murder trial.
"I really don't have any faith in the system," said
Robert, who suggested there could be a link between him and his
son's murder. But police said yesterday that doesn't appear to
be the case.
Although Correctional Service
of Canada spokeswoman Michele Pilon-Santini could not confirm
that Robert Stewart was being allowed to attend the funeral,
she said escorted temporary absences can be granted for compassionate
reasons.
"If an individual is serving a life sentence it requires
the permission of the National Parole Board," she said.
"The security risks are examined."
Robert Stewart, who will be
accompanied by at least two prison guards and be under constant
supervision while in Ottawa, said he is appreciative for the
chance to pay his final respects. "They've been really good
over this," he said.
Douglas Stewart will be laid
to rest tomorrow after an 11 a.m. service at the McEvoy-Shields
Funeral chapel on Kent St. Visitation is today at the funeral
home from 2-9 p.m.
Tue, February 24, 2004
Slain teen laid to rest
Friends, family members fill
chapel to remember victim
By HOLLY LAKE, Ottawa Sun
MUCH IS lost and left unfinished
when a life is taken at 19. Friends and family of Douglas Stewart
were grappling to deal with that belief yesterday as they laid
him to rest.
The young man was beaten to death in his bed Wednesday. So far,
no arrests have been made.
Before reading a poem, a distraught Raymond Beland wondered aloud
who could have done this to his "baby brother."
He said it was only a few weeks ago Stewart told him things were
going to be okay, that he was thinking about going back to work.
LOVED FAMILY
Through a flow of tears, Beland spoke of a young man who would
place little kisses on his grandmother's eyes and have wrestling
matches with his grandfather. "His biggest love was his
family," he said.
His mother Linda Beland cried out as she accompanied her son's
casket in to the sounds of Amazing Grace.
At her side was Stewart's father Robert. Having been granted
a temporary escorted absence from Collins Bay Institution in
Kingston where he's serving a life sentence for murder, Stewart
was clad in a fleece sweater, splash pants and sneakers, with
his hands in cuffs and his legs in shackles.
The funeral home chapel was
packed with Stewart's young friends, many of whom were clearly
anguished. Throughout the service, his parents went to several
to comfort them.
Those gathered heard Stewart was always most content when playing
his PlayStation and eating.
"Jesus is playing (PlayStation) with him right now,"
Father Joe Leclair said in an effort to console the family.
Beland said their favourite game was Tony Hawk 3. "We never
finished it, but I will," he said, before giving his brother
a kiss. With the casket set to be closed, G-Unit's song Smile
-- Stewart's favourite -- throbbed through the room.
"He liked it loud," Beland said of the hip-hop music.
'ONE LAST KISS'
Beside him, his mother stood sobbing. "Can I give him one
last kiss?" she asked the attendant.
Half an hour after the service,
Robert Stewart was escorted out the funeral home's back door
and whisked away by Corrections Canada officials. He's serving
a life sentence at the medium-security institution for the 1990
murder of drug dealer Michel Giroux and his pregnant common-law
wife Manon Bourdeau in Cumberland.
Two other men who were convicted
have since won appeals after a witness allegedly recanted his
testimony.
Stewart, who's long claimed he's innocent, has also filed an
appeal.
Sun, February 13, 2005
Where's the justice?
A year after Douglas Stewart's
murder, his distraught family is desperate for help in finding
the killer, as Laura Czekaj explains
By LAURA CZEKAJ, Ottawa Sun
The uncanny likeness of a smiling
Douglas Stewart is etched in black ink on the upper arm of his
older brother Raymond. But it's the pain etched on the hearts
of Stewart's family that has them reaching out to the public
for help on the first anniversary of his brutal murder.
"I just need to know why,
who did it and why," says Stewart's mom, Linda Beland, as
she sits on the edge of the sofa in her west-end Ottawa home,
surrounded by mementos of her slain son.
"Douglas was the type
who would stop fights. He would hang around with his friends
and if there was a fight, he was always the one to stop it 'cause
he didn't like violence."
Pausing as tears well in her
eyes, the bereaved mother's voice breaks as she sobs.
"That's why it hurts me
so much because I don't know if he was awake, or if he suffered,
if he asked for me, for his brother."
The approach of the one-year anniversary of Stewart's unsolved
murder on Friday is taking a toll on his family, who say they
can't find closure, and neither will Stewart's spirit, until
his killer is brought to justice.
"Somebody took away somebody else's life, that is not allowed,
that is the worst thing you can break, that's God's commandment,"
says Raymond, 26. "He deserves justice. (The killer) should
be put away."
FOUND BY FRIEND
On Feb. 18, 2004, the 19-year-old's lifeless body was found on
his bed by a friend. Stewart was ruthlessly bludgeoned
to death, his skull smashed in by several violent blows from
a tire iron. There was no sign of forced entry to his apartment
at 1240 Donald St., indicating Stewart may have known his killer.
There have been no arrests in the murder, although lead investigator,
Ottawa police Sgt. Anthony Costantini, says he has a few "persons
of interest." "It's been close to a year now and there
are still obstacles that we are trying to hurdle over as far
as witnesses coming forth or persons with information,"
says Costantini. "But I believe we are closer now than six
months ago."
The investigator says drugs
appear to be the motive for the murder -- possibly a drug debt
or revenge for Stewart's own dealings -- or retaliation of a
gang nature. "There was information he was not affiliated,
but associated to persons who are affiliated to gangs,"
said Costantini. But Stewart's minor criminal past didn't warrant
the savage way he died, says Costantini. "He was a good
kid who sometimes ran with the wrong crowd and got himself mixed
up in situations that might have been beyond his control,"
he says. "But nobody deserves to die that way."
Stewart's grieving family will
mark Friday's tragic milestone with a candlelight vigil at 7
p.m. at the building where he was killed. Many friends
and relatives are expected to attend. The public is also invited
to lend support to the family.
But the vigil won't include Stewart's dad, Robert, who is serving
a life sentence at Collins Bay Penitentiary in Kingston for killing
drug dealer Michel Giroux and his common-law wife, Manon Bourdeau,
in Cumberland in 1990. Robert maintains his innocence and is
appealing his conviction. Police say Stewart's murder is not
connected to his father crimes.
Stewart's untimely death robbed
his loved ones of a young man who would do anything for his family
and friends.
Sporting a T-shirt emblazoned with his dead brother's photograph
and his moniker, "Dougie Fresh," Raymond says he lost
more than just his brother, he lost a second chance. Last December,
Raymond decided to turn his life around and rekindle his relationship
with his brother. "That was the first time last year, last
January, that we said 'I love you' to each other," he recalls.
"We were getting along good. It was unfortunate it was only
for a month and half of his life."
SENSE OF DISBELIEF
Just a few feet away, Raymond's infant son, Raymond Jr., smiles
in his sleep. The baby -- whose middle name honours his dead
uncle -- and his five-year-old sister, Grace, bring joy to the
saddened heart of their grandmother. But Beland can't bring herself
to believe her son is dead and says she still feels as if he
may walk in the door at any moment. The night before her son
was found murdered, Beland spoke to him on the phone about his
plans to move out of his apartment and move in with her in Kemptville.
"That was the last word
I heard from him was ... 'I love you' like always," she
says. "No matter what, even when I was mad at him, I still
said, 'I love you.' "
Stewart had only been living
alone in the apartment for about a month before his death. Before
that, he shared the space with his brother and a friend. Stewart
worked at his uncle's alarm company for two years and a moving
company for about four years. He was briefly on welfare just
before his murder, to make ends meet during the slow moving season.
While police are getting closer to finding the murderer, Costantini
says solving the case may rest on whether a key witness or someone
who knows the killer comes forward. They may be afraid
of retribution, but the investigator says they must also keep
in mind the pain of the victim's family in not knowing who committed
this horrific crime.
Anyone who has information about the murder of Douglas Stewart
can call Costantini at 236-1222, ext. 5389, or Crime Stoppers
at 233-TIPS.
________________
|
Truth can never be
told so as to be understood, and not be believ'd. William Blake, The Proverbs of Hell
