Steven Laffin got an automatic life sentence after pleading guilty yesterday to second degree murder in the death of Nadine Taylor. The question now to be decided is when he will be eligible for parole. The Crown says typically a second degree murder conviction the parole eligibility rate is in the 13 to 15 year range. I'm not certain that's sufficient for this monster who also faces sentencing next month for the assault and kidnapping of another sex trade worker. He'd been charged with another assault as well, but because the victim, again a sex trade worker, was late getting to court the case was thrown out. A short time later Nadine Taylor was murdered. Laffin may have shown police last week where he dumped her body but that shouldn't factor into a more severe sentence for the man described as a predator.
Nadine Taylor's dad says jailhouse justice might have a way of dealing with Laffin. He predicted after the sentencing that Laffin would never make it to a parole hearing, that his daughter has friends "who'd like to talk to him and shake his hand."
CBC's reporting the cost of the already over-budgeted rebuild of the Bluenose II is going up even more. No surprise there really. Why can't governments doing anything on time and on budget? The province has already invested some $17 million in the project. It's already a million dollars over budget, and now some required design changes apparently will drive up the cost even further. As well the government cannot say just when Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador might sail again.
CBC's also reporting that while the number of UFO sightings is on the rise across Canada, the feds have little interest anymore in investigating UFO reports. Any reports of sightings are now simply passed on to Chris Rutkowski, a Manitoba based UFO researcher who runs the Canadian UFO Survey. I'm not sure I really believe in UFO's but I am reluctant to dismiss them outright considering the number of unexplained incidents.
Sorry to hear the news the Chronicle Herald will soon scrap its Sunday paper. I enjoy an early morning cup of tea and the Sunday newspaper. The times however, they are a changin'.
Have a great weekend. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
