Karla Homolka was born an the 4th of May in Port Credit, Ontario in Canada and was sentenced to prison for the manslughter of two Ontario teenage girls, Leslie Mahaffy and Kirsten French, as well as the rape and death of her own sister, Tammy Homolka. ...deal with the Devil...
The sentence followed a plea bargain in which Homolka agreed to testify against Paul Bernardo in return for immunity. Due to the nature of her crimes however, immunity was not an option, and she plead guilty to 3 counts of manslaughter, in return of a 12 year sentence.
...innocent victim of a muderous man?
Paul Bernardo, also born in Ontario, was sentenced to 25 years in Prison for murder, rape and numerous other offences, and later declared a "dangerous offender", making it unlikely that he will ever be released. He was long suspected as the "Scarbourough Rapist," and admitted to the rape of numerous victims that were not initially brought in connection with his person.Schoolgirl Killer murders- Tammy Homolka
"I wanted to give Paul Tammy's virginity for Christmas..."
Upon his engagement to Karla Homolka, Paul Bernardo's behaviour suggested an infatuation with Karla's younger sister Tammy. He expressed this to Karla, who seemed all to eager to help. On July 24, 1990 the couple lured Tammy into their home and served her a meal of Spaghetti, previously laced with stolen Valium.
Karla looked on as Paul raped her younger sister.
After spending the summer flirting with Tammy, Paul and Karla struck on December 23, 1990 yet again. They proceeded to administer sleeping pills to the then 15 year old Tammy in an egg-nog drink, undressed her and, using a Halothane soaked cloth to prevent her from protesting, filmed themselves while raping her.
Tammy Homolka began to vomit, and subsequently died. The criminal couple called 911, and Tammy was pronounced dead at St. Catherines General Hospital a couple hours later.
UNBELIEVABLY, despite a huge burn mark on her face (from the rag) and the suspicious actions of the pair, this death was ruled "accidental." Death by choking after vomitting from consumption of alcohol.
The Schoolgirl Killer murders- Leslie Mahaffy
"Karla, we have a playmate..."
Leslie was born on July 5th and at the time of her killing, she was a grade nine student in Burlington, Ontario. After attending a funeral and missing her curfew, Mahaffy was unable to gain entrance to her home and called a friend for permission to sleep over. This however, also proved futile. After ending the call, she was intercepted by Bernardo and kidnapped. Homolka was not present at the time of the kidnapping.
Bernardo and Homolka raped the fourteen year old girl, and videos of the assault were shown during their trial. Leslie's blindfold began to slip during the assault, which she allegedly commented, resulting ultimately in the fact that Homolka became paranoid at the idea of being identified. She murdered Leslie the following day, with a lethal dose of Halcion. The couple used a circular saw to cut the body into pieces, embedding each piece in cement blocks and disposing of them in Lake Gibson.
The Schoolgirl Killings- Kirsten French
Kirsten French was kidnapped at knife-point in St. Catherine's while returning home from school. Having fallen for Homolka's trick question of asking directions, she was forced into the couple's car and taken to the Homolka home. Over a period of three days, easter weekend, the couple filmed themselves beating, raping and degrading Kirsten. She was forced to consume large amounts of alcohol and was never blindfolded, leading to believe that the intention to murder her was never in question. The actual cause of death was difficult to determine due to conflicting statements made by both Homolka and Bernardo. Her body was found, relieved of her hair, in a ditch near north Burlington.Trial
The trial of Karla Homolka lasted mere minutes, She recieved a 12 year sentence on two counts of manslaughter in exchange for her testimony against Paul Bernardo. The plea bargain was met with a public outcry of rage and misunderstanding in Canada. It was also sealed, before the exact extent of her involvement in the rapes was identified. She refrained from applying for parole and was released, conditionally, on July 4, 2005. These conditions were later lifted.
Paul Bernardo's trial took place in 1995. On September 1 he was convicted on numerous charges, including two first-degree murder charges and two aggravated sexual assaults, and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was later named a "dangerous offender", making it unlikely he will ever be released. He is serving his sentence at Kingston Penitentiary, under solitary confinement.
Bernardos trial included testimony by Homolka and videotapes of the rapes. It was subject to a publication ban, which was negated by many internet sources, citing the first Amendment. Although canadian media was censored by the ban, it did not prevent nearby US sources from reporting on the case.
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Note from the author:
The case of Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo is so full of conflicting testimony and facts that it is extremely hard to find an accurate account. I researched this case thoroughly, but the truth is I could fill pages and pages with gruesome details. It is hard to even read about these cases and maintain a journalists opinion of not being in the opinion. I want to make it very clear that I am just as disgusted as any of you reading. Growing up in Ontario, I have been familiar with this case for a long time. Many of the facts are distorted, conflicting and many of the accounts copied from other serial killers.
The fact that Homolka is now free and has a child of her own raises tons of questions that need to be asked. Can she be a mother? Can she love a child? What damage will be done to the child when he finds out who his mother is/was? Was she a victim of a murderous man? How could she sacrifice her own sister in the way she did?
Let me know what you all think. I need to get a coffee and think about happier things for a couple of minutes...
-T.
