When a Toronto criminologist’s wife is murdered, his academic study of homicide turns personal. A contemporary crime novel about biker gangs, victims’ rights, and the search for justice.
The deceased, a talented cellist, had a father who now threatens vigilante vengeance and must be dissuaded by his son-in-law Ted Boudreau. But Ted can’t promise the police and courts will give satisfaction. Might the outlaws of the Dark Arrows Motorcycle Club be of more use to the bereaved husband than the justice system and its plea-bargaining Crown prosecutor?
“Karin had so much promise unfulfilled — as artist, mother, lover. Now she lay cold with a cold embryo inside her only because of criminal action. Because of crime committed in her own house where she had most right to expect shelter.”
In Ontario, the spouse of a murder victim may prepare a statement to be presented in court at the time sentence is passed and to be taken into consideration by the sentencing judge. Forms are available to aid in the preparation of these statements.
The enclosed guidelines said not all parts of the form had to be filled out and that indeed a Victim Impact Statement could be filed without using the form at all. Those needing more direction could attempt to answer a series of questions for each of the three headings. The first question pertaining to Emotional Loss was, “Has the crime affected your lifestyle?” Ted doubted whether anyone that could think in such terms would need to fill out the forms at all. Lifestyle was for the un-impacted.
