It came to my attention recently that Kingsley Bruce may be nearing a release date and that it had not received any media attention at all. Media is pretty quick to swoop in with their cameras and mics looking for sexy soundbites when the tactical unit is in play but where is the follow up when things like parole hearings come up?
When a story like this one ends with the cold statement by the police like the one at the end of the story, it is especially sad and that my friends got a whole he said, she said story going in my mind.
At the end of the story I said, "We need to be more serious in the way we treat the subject of violence against women, it really has to stop". Here is how it started.
This official police statement said:
"On Saturday, October 25th, 2008 at approximately 6:00 a.m., District 6 uniformed members attended to a residence in the area of Pembina Highway and Newdale Avenue regarding a family dispute.
Upon arrival, members located a twenty-five year old female victim who appeared to have been assaulted. She was subsequently removed from the suite safely.
It was at this time an extremely distraught male suspect advised members of the Winnipeg Police Service that he was in possession of a firearm and refused them entry into the suite. Members were also alerted to the fact that a five year old female and thirteen month old male remained within the residence.
As a result, the Winnipeg Police Service initiated the Incident Command Structure consisting of a variety of resources which included the following; Tactical Support Team, Crisis Negotiators, Uniformed Members, Major Crimes Unit, Canine Unit, including the assistance of the R.C.M.P.
At approximately 4:00 p.m., both children were safely removed from the suite and the male suspect was taken into custody without incident.
Thirty-two year old Kingsley BRUCE of Winnipeg has been charged with the following offences;
- Forcible Confinement
- Utter Threats x 2
- Assault Cause Bodily Harm
- Including numerous Breaches
He has been detained in custody.
The Winnipeg Police Service would like to thank the public, including members of the media for their patience and co-operation during this day long incident."
About 6:00 that morning neighbors called police.
The next door neighbor said, "We just heard a lot of yelling and screaming and a lot of banging, you know, like somebody was getting abused"
Another neighbour said he heard a man tell police to "back off" because he had a weapon and "lots of ammunition."
Kingsley Bruce said, "See what happens when you try to come inside."
In a rage, Bruce punched her in the face and punched her again and again continuing on kicking her in the stomach over and over and over.
The victim's impact statement said, "With every kick Kingsley issued me I reminded him I was (nine months) pregnant with his son, it was like he didn't care and continued to do whatever he was going to do."
The victim said, "The rage he had in his eyes will always be etched in my mind"
Bruce said, "Come back here bitch, I'm not done with you"
The police spokesman, Const. Jason Michalyshen said the woman is very shaken up by the whole incident, but that her injuries aren't serious.
The Crown attorney said, "There are not enough words I can use to describe how truly awful this offence is."
The Judge said, "You need help"
The Winnipeg Sun said, "THUG GIVEN FIVE YEARS.PAST VIOLENCE INVOLVED THREE WOMEN."
For more than ten hours police were in a standoff situation involving a fully pregnant woman being beaten by a drunk and violent man, while a five year old girl and her thirteen month old baby brother were powerless and could do nothing to stop it and all Michalyshen can muster is that the woman is very shaken up by the whole incident?
I have seen the pictures. Trust Freek when I say, the injuries WERE VERY VERY serious. Not to mention the unseen wounds on the Mother and her Daughter.
Eminem said,
...walk a thousand miles
In my shoes, just to seeWhat it's like, to be meI'll be you, let's trade shoes
We need to be more serious in the way we treat the subject of violence against women, it really has to stop.
