Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 11, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba a10 Winnipeg free press Friday August 11, 2006 top news no Deal with paedophile Crown says will fight to have Whitmore declared dangerous offender by Mike Mcintyre r Egina sask. ? Saskatchewan Justice officials vow they will not Cut a Deal with Peter Whitmore and will fight to have the notorious paedophile declared a dangerous offender and put in prison for the rest of his life. Whitmore 35, made a very Brief court appearance yesterday following his arrest last week on charges of Kidnap Ping and sexually assaulting two Young boys. His Case was adjourned until aug. 24. The Crown has never made a Deal and there is no Deal with or. Whitmore Crown attorney Anthony Gerein told a throng of reporters on the Steps of the Regina provincial courthouse. Whitmore agreed to surrender last week following a nine hour standoff at an abandoned farmhouse near Kipling after police gave him a written Promise to recommend he be spared a life sentence and dangerous offender designation. A Crown attorney was also consulted by police during negotiations with Whit More. In Exchange Whitmore would immediately plead guilty to his alleged crimes and be Given a fixed sentence which would ensure he is eventually released. Gerein said yesterday the ramp have honoured the terms of that letter by making the recommendation. The Crown sees no basis to accept that recommendation. We believe there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction and upon conviction a reasonable likelihood he would be designated a danger Ous offender said Gerein. We have reviewed evidence and will continue reviewing evidence and we anticipate proceeding in that Gerein said police should be com mended for the Way they brought a peaceful Resolution to the High profile Case. A dangerous offender designation would put Whitmore behind bars indefinitely and could result in him never being released if prison officials still deem him a risk to the Public. Whitmore ? who has a Long history of prior sex assault convictions ? appeared in court yesterday looking slightly dishevelled. His hair was Messy his eyes baggy and he wore a scowl on his face and the same Canada sweatshirt he had on during his first court appearance last week. Whitmore still does to officially have a lawyer but is seeking to have his Long time counsel Daniel Brodsky represent him. A Legal Aid representative appeared on his behalf yesterday. Brodsky who is based out of Toronto has told the free press he will represent Whitmore if financial terms can be worked out with Saskatchewan Legal Aid. Negotiations Are ongoing. Brodsky has said Whitmore would immediately plead guilty and spare the two Young victims from testifying if Justice officials agreed to honour the police recommendation. But he warned a Long drawn out Legal process was in store if they refused and suggested Whitmore May plead not guilty on the grounds he is mentally ill. Whitmore would then seek a finding of not criminally responsible which if successful would put him in a mental health facility instead of a prison. Brodsky has also vowed to fight the Case All the Way to the supreme court. Whitmore is charged with kidnapping a 14-year-old Winnipeg boy on july 23 and a 10-year-old Rural Saskatchewan boy on july 30. He is also charged with repeatedly sexually assaulting both boys causing bodily harm. The Saskatchewan boy was rescued on aug. 1 from the abandoned farm House while the 14-year-old boy was released by Whitmore following the standoff. Whitmore then gave himself up to police. In mid july where he befriended the Stepfather of the 14-year-old Winnipeg victim while they worked Highway construction together. He is accused of tricking the Stepfather and teen into coming with him to Brandon and then convincing the Man to return to Winnipeg and leave the teen in his care. Whitmore and the teen allegedly went to Saskatchewan where he told several residents the boy was his son. Whitmore had been under a court ordered peace Bond when he left his Home in . To visit family in Alberta in june. The strict conditions were allowed to expire and Whitmore did to show up in court in late june to renew the peace Bond. A warrant was issued for his arrest. Whitmore surfaced in Newfoundland at the beginning of july where he allegedly Strung together a web of lies to local residents. He is now under investigation for an alleged sex assault of a Young boy. Whitmore allegedly came to Winnipeg Tornado cleanup volunteers sought woman spared harm coordinating Effort by Mia Rabson a Winnipeg woman with a farm property near Gull Lake that was spared any damage when a Tornado ripped through the area last saturday is asking anyone and everyone to pitch in and help clean up the mess left behind. Sandy romans farm is just Over a kilo metre away from the Tornado site and she said she feels a need to do something to help her friends and Neighbours who weren to spared the storms Wrath. We re feeling really blessed said roman. She be mailed the entire client list for the Talent Agency she owns asking people to pitch in for a weekend cleanup aug. 18, 19 and 20. She is hoping others will Volunteer As Well. Donations of food garbage bags work gloves and fuel for chainsaws would be very appreciated if you can to actually head to the area to help clean up. Farmer Jerry Hlatkey whose property was demolished by the Tornado said he mainly needs help Clearing the Fields of debris. We need people to walk the Field for about a mile said Hlatkey. He and his wife Are currently living in a rented trailer because their House is uninhabitable. The Tornado that struck the Gull Lake area saturday had wind speeds of Between 181 pm hand 252 pm hand was classified As an f2 or considerable Tor Nado by environment Canada. The weather office also received reports of four other tornadoes spawned by the same system of thunderstorms that extended from the Northern Interlake area southward to Minnesota. A number of area farms were dam aged or destroyed As were trailers cot tages and Homes on Gull lakes North Shore. The tall Timber Lodge and the nearby Campground were damaged and the Kendall Point Lodge was destroyed. Tornado sightings were reported South of Jack head Northeast of Petersfield Patricia Beach and North of Mcarthur to Bird River. At least a dozen people were injured and 64-year-old Elfrieda Visser was killed in the storm. Her husband John remains in fair condition at the health sciences Centre in Winnipeg. A 34-year?old Man remains in critical condition at the Hospital. Two other people Are also still in Hospital following the Tornado including a woman who is in fair Condi Tion and a Man who is in Good condition. Roman said volunteers can get More information at , where she has created a specific Page about the Tornado or by emailing her at . ;