"He grabbed me by the hair of the head as tight as he could, threw me onto the floor and repeatedly punched me in the face & head over & over while still holding me down by my hair. I kept seeing stars, thought I was going to black out. I just kept telling myself 'I couldn't black out, I just couldn't' I honestly thought he was going to beat me to death and I would never see my daughter or my grandchild ever again."

Quoted from Page 1 of Brenda Porteous' Victim Impact Statement



"For dragging her by the hair and beating her so badly that she lost control of her bladder from shock, Brenda Porteous's former boyfriend got a 90-day jail term that he serves on weekends."

Quoted from Pauline Tam's article of September 10, 1997 in the Ottawa Citizen, Section B, page 1



"There was no evidence that she lost control of her bladder from shock, this being claimed for the first time in the newspaper article of September 10, 1997."

Quoted from Robert B. Carew, Ottawa, Counsel for the accused from "Letters to the Editor" Ottawa Citizen September 16, 1997, Heading "Victim's story not entirely accurate"



"Mr. Carew says that before the September 10th article there was no evidence that Ms. Porteous had lost control of her bladder from shock. This humiliation was written on page 4 of her Victim Impact statement, which Mr. Carew took great pains to mock before the court. It was also entirely apparent in the police photographs. Perhaps he forgot to look at them. He certainly studied the photos of the accused.

In his sentencing submission, Mr. Carew said this to the Court: "Your Honour, there are two victims here. You need only look at the deep gouges on my client's face."

I saw the OPP photographs of Brenda Porteous, and I was horrified, even after almost 12 years of working with battered women. Even the judge winced when looking at the pictures. I also saw police photographs of Gordon Wilson. He had superficial abrasions on his face, probably defensive wounds inflicted by Ms. Porteous as she struggled to free herself. He had pinned her to the floor by the hair and was punching her repeatedly with his fist. She thought he was going to kill her.

There were not two victims here, Mr. Carew. Come off it."

Quoted from the original Letter to the Editor of the Ottawa Citizen, written on September 20, 1997 by Donna F. Johnson, Co-Ordinator, Community Support Program, Lanark County Interval House





"Charged with assault causing bodily harm, he pleaded guilty, even though Ms. Porteous had pushed for a trial so she could testify. Instead, one of three different prosecutors who dealt with her case accepted a guilty plea after closed-door negotiations with the defence."

Quoted from Pauline Tam's article "Confused and embittered" Ottawa Citizen, Section B, page 1, September 10, 1997



"Ms. Porteous states that the prosecution accepted a guilty plea after closed door negotiations with the defence ..... To set the record straight, the accused did not plead guilty after closed door negotiations."

Quoted from Robert B. Carew, Counsel for the accused, Letters to the Editor, Ottawa Citizen, September 16, 1997



"Ms. Porteous was asked her opinion on sentencing. At least one year ... ordered to seek help for his violence towards women....The Crown said four to six months was more in line with what she though she could realistically get. The Crown said her hands were tied by sentencing precedents.....we witnessed Mr. Carew joking with and teasing the Crown Attorney, trying to get her to strike a plea bargain. 'Come on you can give me four,' he said, as if he was bidding in a poker game....Several times Mr. Carew and Ms. Findlay left the courtroom to discuss a plea bargain. When the Crown was prepared to accept a plea bargain for less that six months, Ms. Porteous....wanted to go ahead with the trial. The Crown instructed her on the risks...but said it was ultimately Ms. Porteous's decision....The Crown said okay....The Crown and Mr. Carew disappeared again. A few minutes later Ms. Findlay returned to tell Ms. Porteous that she had acccepted a plea bargain (less than six months)....The Crown had the final decision, she said, and there would be no trial."

Quoted from Original letter September 20, 1997 to the Editor, Ottawa Citizen by Donna F. Johnson, Co-Ordinator, Community Support Program, Lanark County Interval House



"I have supported Ms. Porteous since she called the shelter for assistance three weeks after the assault. I applaud her courage in speaking out, and share her concerns.... Women who co-operate unquestioningly with police or court procedure tend to be viewed as 'good victims', while those who challenge or try to direct the process in any way are often labelled hostile or uncooperative, or are regarded suspiciously as having 'undue interest' in their case."

Donna F. Johnson, Co-Ordinator, Community Support Program, Lanark County Interval House



"When her attacker was released from custody on bail, police did not notify Ms. Porteous .... it was a support worker from Interval House who gave her the news."

Quoted from Pauline Tam's article "Confused and embittered", Ottawa Citizen, September 10, 1997, Section B, page 1.



"Finally, court staff and investigators attempt to keep victims apprised of all relevant information regarding their case and, whenever possible, contact them of impending releases."

Quote from Ian Davidson, Criminal Investigative Services, Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service. Letter to the Editor "Police Diligent in effort to combat domestic abuse", Ottawa Citizen, September 16, 1997. Please note this is not the same police force involved with Ms. Porteous situation.



"Ottawa Crown Attorney Andrejs Berzins says with his new domestic assault team, prosecutors will be able to communicate more closely with victims, advising them when an accused is out of custody on bail and the conditions of release....Whenever possible, the same prosecutor will prepare a witness to testify...rather than have a case pass the desk of several different Crowns."

Pauline Tam's Article "Changes" Ottawa Citizen, September 10, 1997, Section B, page 2. Please note this is the department responsible for the Prosecution of Ms. Porteous case.





They say one picture is worth a thousand words, need we say more.