PRIME MINISTER WEIGHS IN ON ASHLEY SMITH CASE

Today's Waterloo Region Record has this front page story "PM calls Smith case a "tragedy". The sub title is "Says prison system's actions "completely unacceptable"". Ooh strong words from our Prime Minister, just about five years or more late. More shame on him, the Federal Correctional Service of Canada and finally on our Waterloo Regional police who decided that standing idly by and watching a teenager strangle to death, without offerring assistance, is not a criminal offence.

There isn't a legal duty to put one's own life in jeopardy to save another but there most certainly is a legal duty when there isn't immediate jeopardy to assist a fellow citizen and human being in mortal danger. That allegedly properly trained prison guards would stand back and accept idiotic orders not to intervene until Ashley Smith was no longer breathing, is beyond criminal. Both the guards and the superiors giving those orders need to be brought to justice. That our Regional Police would not lay charges five years ago is an abomination. Were they so in awe of Federal jurisdiction? Were they so in awe of the chain of command? Or is all of this simply their complete lack of respect for the humanity of a prisoner? Hell may have a special place for the guilty in this case.