Speaking through his lawyer, Bernardo said on Tuesday that he has been thinking about the release of Homolka, his co-rapist and co-killer, who was set free on Monday after serving 12 years for her part in the killings of Mahaffy and Kristen French.
Bernardo was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. He was later declared a dangerous offender, which will keep him in prison indefinitely.
But with media attention focused on his ex-wife, Bernardo couldn't resist speaking out on Homolka, talking first with Ontario police on Friday, then with his lawyer Tony Bryant.
Paul Bernardo (CP file photo)
"He became agitated maybe as a result of seeing all the media attention over the last several months," said Bryant.
"There's a couple of things that he wanted to say that he thought were particularly troublesome."
Bernardo is not allowed to speak publicly.
Bryant said his client wants people to know that after the kidnapping of Mahaffy, during the rapes, Bernardo was still planning to set the teen free. But Homolka panicked and attempted to murder Mahaffy.
"He wanted to get the message across that she actually tried to kill Leslie Mahaffy by means of an embolism. By means of injecting an air bubble into her bloodstream. Because she was afraid that because the blindfold had fallen off, that she [Mahaffy] would be able to recognize Paul [Bernardo] and presumably herself," said Bryant.
Those specifics make for a story Bernardo's never before told.
But they differ little from his insistence during his trial that it was Homolka who strangled Mahaffy and later French.
"He's saying 'Look, I told you once and it didn't sort of have much of an impact. I don't want anyone to ever say 'Well why didn't you ever speak to the only person who really knew her while these events were going on?'' He would be the one to be able to tell you what she was really like, and so now he's doing it."
Bernardo also reminded Bryant that Homolka helped out on a less reported kidnap and rape before Mahaffy.
But even if the new specific allegations are proven, Bryant says they'd change nothing for Bernardo's sentence, nor would they have any effect on Homolka's freedom.
Neither the police nor Ontario's Crown Attorney's office would comment on the allegations.
It's Bernardo's understanding that he may get the chance to speak publicly when the fuss over Homolka's release dies down.
Related
Video
- Paul Hunter reports for CBC-TV (Runs: 3:07)
play: RealMedia »
play: RealVideo »
play: QuickTime »
More Headlines »
- No 'poisoned pill' in throne speech: Ignatieff
- With the Liberals poised to cast the deciding vote on the future of the Conservative minority government, Liberal deputy leader Michael Ignatieff said his party will do what it considers in the best national interest of the country.
- UN food agency halts aid after worker detained in Somalia
- Dozens of heavily armed officers stormed a United Nations compound in Mogadishu, Somalia, and detained the local head of its food agency, UN officials say.
- Indonesian villagers flout warnings, return home near volcano
- Hundreds of villagers defied warnings of a major eruption at one of Indonesia's deadliest volcanoes, leaving refugee centres Wednesday and returning to homes along its slopes to tend to crops and animals.
- Defence rests in Robert Pickton trial
- The marathon trial of Robert William Pickton reached one of its final milestones Tuesday as his defence lawyers rested their case.
- Alleged pedophile taught at B.C. school 6 months ago
- The lead suspect in an international pedophile investigation volunteered at a B.C. school and was a chaplin with the air cadets in Nova Scotia.
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window