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Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Will dad be here for Father’s Day?
Killer makes tearful apology to moms Hearing underway: Crown seeking maximum 25-year sentence for William Elliott Peter W. Rusland and John McKinley News Leader Pictorial
Pregnant woman: looks to community to help get her Tanzanian husband here in time for the birth of their child
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Kathy Santini
News Leader Pictorial
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pregnant Duncan woman who’s due at any time has done everything she can to get her Tanzanian husband into the country for the birth of their first child. She’s now asking for the community’s help. The mother-to-be is asking area residents to sign a letter of support today or tomorrow at Nanaimo Cowichan MP Jean Crowder’s Duncan office, so her husband ,Mgonea Luhui, can be at her side for the birth of their child. “This is such a great community, I’m hoping that they can help,” long-time Cowichan Valley resident Becky Harris said. Yesterday, Luhui arrived in Tanzania’s capital of Dar es Salaam, after travelling 16 hours by bus to get the papers for his permanent resident visa. According to Harris, the documents aren’t available online. With any kind of luck, Luhui will also get an interview this week with someone at the Canadian Embassy, regarding his permanent status and hopefully his temporary visa. That’s where the letters of support come in. “We’re hoping that will help
courtesy Becky Harris
Becky Harris and Mgonea Luhui celebrate their wedding together last summer. They hope to also be together for the birth of their child, which could happen anytime. with the interview process and help influence the decision,” Harris said.”I want him to be here to bond with the baby and to be with the baby for a bit.” Harris last saw her husband on Dec. 31, when she returned to Canada because she is a Type 1 diabetic and considered a high-risk pregnancy. She’s due July 13, but is currently in hospital awaiting her child’s birth, which could happen any time. “We don’t have time on our side any more.” Harris worked in Tanzania 3 1/2 years and married her husband in July 2013. According to her, he’s been denied a temporary visa three times: twice in 2012 and a month ago in May.
“We were told that his temporary applications were denied because the permanent application was in the works and not far enough along,” Harris said. At this point, it doesn’t matter so much to her whether he gets a permanent or temporary visa, just that he’s here for the birth. “If they’d just let him into the country, we’d be OK with him going back while waiting for his permanent visa,” she said. “All we can do is try, hopefully they’ll let him in on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.” Crowder agreed that the temporary visa has been denied because of his permanent visa application.
She said she could ask the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to intervene, but wouldn’t recommend doing so unless Luhui is turned down for his temporary visa. “It’s best to let them review the temporary application, get the decision and then, if turned down, approach the minister. “ “This is normal,” she said. “We have people who have been in the queue for years.” Normally, permanent resident applications take 18 months to process.Those wanting to sign a letter of support during the next couple of days can stop in at Crowder’s Duncan constituency office at #101 126 Ingram Street.
he families of Karrie Ann Stone and Tyeshia Jones watched in painful silence Tuesday as video footage was screened in court showing their murderer apologize to their mothers. That taped April 21, 2012 meeting saw a tearful William Gordon Robert Elliott apologize to Bev Stone and Mary Jim in a sterile interview room, with an official present. Tyeshia Jones: “Words can’t change what died at 18 happened,” Elliott said, in a near whisper, “but I’m truly sorry for taking your loved ones from your lives, and I pray for your forgiveness; I’m sorry.” Bev Stone asked Elliott if her daughter knew what Elliott was going to do to her. “I didn’t know what I was going to do,” he answered. “Karrie Ann was a very kind person,” Bev Stone told him. “This is something you’ll have to live with for the rest of your life; same as us. I hope you find peace within yourself.” The Crown intends to seek the maximum sentence prior to parole in the murders. “In other words, 25 years,” prosecutor Scott Van Alstine told the court Monday morning as the sentencing hearing got underway in Karrie Ann Stone: the Duncan courthouse. died at 42 Elliott, a thick-set man in his mid-20s, with gelled dark hair and a black shirt, sat in the prisoners’ box before a courtroom full of observers, including friends and family of each victim, and visiting media. Last July he pleaded guilty to two counts of seconddegree murder: one in the July 2010 killing of Stone, 42; the other in the January 2011 death of Jones, 18. Van Alstine opened the hearing by detailing the evidence surrounding the Stone murder. Elliott told undercover police officers he had taken Stone to his home for sex. more on page 5