Police are hunting today for the man behind a brutal sexual assault in the city's north end early yesterday morning and they're hoping someone might have seen something that will lead to his arrest. It happened around 2am. A 21 year old woman was walking south on Agricola between West and Cunard when a man offered to call her a cab. He somehow lured her into a laneway and then raped her. He's described as a white male in his mid-twenties, 5 foot 10 with light brown hair and a scruffy face. He was wearing jeans and a black jacket. Let's help police nail this ass. If you have any information call them.
Rothesay, New Brunswick police are looking into another case involving convicted Nova Scotia animal abuser Gail Benoit. A Rothesay resident, Phyllis Jesso, thought she was buying a Newfoundland puppy when she was contacted by someone named Kay after her search on Kijiji. She wired Kay $450 and so far no puppy, no contact with Kay who she discovered is Gail Benoit, and no money back either. Buyer beware warns Halifax animal activist Annette Armitage who told my radio show yesterday dealing with animals on Kijiji is a risky venture. Let Phyllis Jesso's experience be another lesson.
It would be like being called into the principal's office. That's how one observer described yesterday's lesson in civic duty at the Halifax Law Courts. 9 people who were called to jury duty in a murder case but failed to show were ordered to appear before Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Glen McDougall yesterday to explain their actions and to receive a public scolding about their responsibilities as a citizen in Canada. "By not showing up, you jeopardized the accused's right to a jury trial," the judge said, adding they also failed the entire justice system. He did accept the explanations given by 8 of the 9 and decided not to fine them. Kathy Veniot however was fined $50. She told reporters she deserved it. More lessons learned.
I learned something new last evening. I did not know we had a senator for north end Halifax. A real live actual senator. Liberal Terry Mercer is the senator for the city's north end though he lives a distance away in Mount Uniacke when he's not jaunting about racking up big expenses. CTV's supper hour news also reported last night he's the country's most expensive senator with $340,000 in expenses last year. That's on top of his $132,000 salary. "I'm very busy," he told CTV. Doing what I wonder. Many of his constituents have never heard of the guy. Looks to me like he's just another reason to abolish the Senate.
Have a great weekend. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
