Carmen Gill, a professor at the University of New Brunswick, said this is the kind of isolation and intimidation that would likely lead to prosecution under Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act passed in the United Kingdom
This translation has been automatically generated and has not been verified for accuracy.The repeated threats and isolation a Nova Scotia mass shooter allegedly used against his spouse show why such cruelty should be a criminal offence in Canada, experts on domestic violence say.
Wortman’s killings were preceded by a domestic assault against his spouse on the night of April 18 at one of his properties in Portapique, N.S. After the woman escaped, the 51-year-old denturist killed 22 victims before police shot and killed him at a service station on April 19. In court documents released last week, acquaintances told police they’d witnessed “abusive,” “controlling” and “manipulative” behaviour by Wortman in the past, though details are blacked out.
“Someone who is controlling their spouses will take all kinds of tactics to minimize their ability to reach out,” she said. “This was a disturbing situation which clearly shows he was isolating his partner.” The sociologist recently submitted a paper to the federal Justice Department’s ombudsman for victims of crime on this potential legal reform.
By the end of 2018, over 308 people had been convicted and sentenced under the law in the United Kingdom, 97 per cent of them male.
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