Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 30, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba A8 Canada / world Winnipeg free press wednesday june 30, 2004 Canadian embassy stalls race to save dying boy by Stephen Thorne k Abul ? an afghan father taking his son to Ottawa for life saving surgery was whisked through a daunting Maze of local Bureau Cracy yesterday receiving a birth certificate and two pass ports in record time Only to be stopped dead in his tracks at the Canadian embassy. Armed with a letter signed by the Canadian contingent com Mander and his top surgeon medical officials accompanied Shafiullah Djan Popal on one of the final stages of his quest to save his dying son Djamshid. With airline tickets booked to leave Kabul tomorrow the soviet trained bureaucracy Rose above itself and came through with All the documents they needed to provide in just two hours. Real problems arose Only after the group reached the Canadian embassy which had been Noti fied More than a week ago that the nine year old boy would be coming to Canada. Peter Marshall who Heads the embassy a consular office said it could take the necessary visas up to three Days to arrive from the regional office in Islamabad throwing a wrench into the opals schedule. We re going Flat out on it said ambassador Chris Alexan Der. We re doing our level Canadian military doctors consulted embassy staff More than a week ago about what documents would be necessary to get the father and son to Canada. Yet the diplomats did not inform them of passport and other requirements until Mon Day then refused to bring the Canadian documents to Kabul until the passports were issued. Yesterdays trek began at the Interior ministry where the Deputy minister instructed ministry staff to co operate with the group which included capt. Americo Rodrigues who discovered Djamshid a plight last month in a Remote Mountain Vil Lage More than three hours Northeast of the capital officials at the birth certificate office expedited documents needed for Djamshid after Rodrigues promised to have a look at their sick children one of whom was there waiting for him. Their journey then took them to the passport office where guards forbid the Canadian sol Diers in the group from entering with their weapons and took Issue with their Drivers Choice of Park ing spots adjacent to the Indian embassy across the Street. After some to and fro Between the group and the guards the groups interpreter went to the passport chief who waved everyone in without hesitation and let the vehicles stay where they were parked. From there it was relatively smooth sailing until they reached the Canadian embassy where Marshall told them he could make no promises. Said Alexander we Are doing everything we can to facilitate receipt of those ? Canadian press killer insists accused did Virk slaying Vancouver ? convicted killer War Ren Glowatski who said he now feels an obligation to Tell the truth steadfastly stuck to the version of events yesterday he swore to a Day earlier which incriminate accused murderer Kelly Ellard in the death of Reena Virk. When asked during Cross examination by defence lawyer Robert Claus Why he refused to testify at Ellard a March 2000 murder trial Glowatski said it was to save his own skin. It probably saved my life said the 23-year-old, who has been in custody since his arrest on nov. 21, 1997 ? one week after Virk was killed. Convicted of second degree murder in 1999, Glowatski will be eligible to apply for full parole in november because he was 16 at the time of the crime. Claus tried to portray Glowatski As a person who has not changed despite his years in prison. He doubted that Glowatski ? once an angry boy of 16 who turned to gang life after his parents had abandoned him ? would lie to police and his trial judge to protect his friends then later grow into a Man of honesty filled with remorse. Claus suggested Glowatski a testimony ? that he stopped Short of dragging Virk into the Gorge Inlet while Ellard dragged the 14-year-old in punched and drowned her ? was All an act designed to impress the Gullible on the parole Board. That a got nothing to do with it Glowatski politely but firmly replied. ? can West news service police to track freed sex offender Toronto ? a dedicated unit of police officers will track serial sex offender Martin Ferrier around the clock upon his release from prison into a Brampton ont., neighbourhood next week Peel police chief Noel Catney said yesterday. Catney a vow to arrest Ferrier when he re offends comes As the Man diag nosed As an incurable psychopath revealed he indeed plans to live in the suburb West of Toronto when he leaves the Warkworth institution in Campbell Ford ont., next wednesday. Catney warned it is a question of when not if Ferrier strikes again ? but he admitted police Are powerless to act until that happens. There a no illusion with me this Guy represents a serious danger to the Community Catney said. Eventually he a going to after some confusion about where Ferrier 31, intends to reside after he is released from prison corrections Canada said he told police and his prison Case management team yesterday that he will make suburban Brampton his Home. Ferrier had been evasive in an prison interview with Peel police monday refusing to disclose the location of his future Home. Police plan to take the rare pre Emp Tive measure of assigning a team of offi cers to follow Ferrier when he is arrives in Brampton. ? can West news service ;