As if the week didn’t start out on a sombre enough note for Lower Mainland women with the disappointing verdict in the Robert “Willie” Pickton murder case, this latest news might be enough to drive you to drink (or, hopefully, to howl with outrage over the state of our justice system).
A BC man convicted of brutally assaulting a female Korean student in a random attack five years ago will be released from prison after only serving two-thirds of his sentence. Robert Gary Wallin choked Ji-Won Park — first with her headphones, and then with his hands — in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, leaving her unable to speak, severely disabled, and confined to a wheelchair. Prior to the attack, Park spoke four languages, played the flute and the piano. Wallin, who has said he still thinks of using violence to resolve issues, and who showed no remorse during his confession, has refused to take rehabilitation courses during his sentence.
It isn’t as if the parole board didn’t know about Wallin’s violent tendencies and sociopathic behavior:
“You have a pattern of violent outbursts,” the parole board wrote in a decision on Wallin’s release conditions, “making demands, reporting unsubstantiated claims about your personal safety, and drawing sexually inappropriate graffiti images.”
However, because Wallin has “made some changes” and is “supported by family”, he gets to walk. Ji-Won Park will never walk again. Or talk. Or play piano.
Wallin will be a free man as of January 18, but where’s the freedom for Ji-Won Park?
As if I haven’t given you enough to make your head explode, wait until you hear the conditions of Wallin’s release. He’s prohibited from contacting Park or her family without permission from his parole supervisor. Not at all, not ever again in life, not without severe penalty for his own personal freedom, but a note from his parole officer is the only thing keeping this violent offender from tormenting this family further. Oh, and he has to undergo psychiatric treatment and attend counseling sessions.
This, after he’s refused such treatment while in prison.
Yeah, I’m feeling really good about being a woman in Canada right about now.
Background reading:
- Man sentenced to 7 years for attack on jogger (CTV.ca)
- Crime victim’s family given immigrant status in Canada (because it’s the least the government could do) (CTV.ca)
- Women have a right to be safe (Vancouver Rape Relief & Women’s Shelter)
- Ji-Won’s progress (The Tyee)
(Photo from the Victoria Times-Colonist)
