Tuesday, October 2, 2012
** Two New York EMTs charged with second-degree murder
** Canadian Gitmo prisoner convicted of killing US military medic repatriated
UNITED STATES NEWS
** Two New York paramedics have been charged with second-degree murder in relation to the 2008 death of one of the two’s spouse. That is the word from the New York Post (Melissa Klein/Frank Rosario/September 30) which said former Jamaica Hospital EMTs Paul Novak and Scott Sherwood are currently in jail pending their next court date. According to the newspaper, the two stand accused of killing Catherine Novak, 41. Novak, who was estranged from her husband at the time, died in an early morning fire at her home on December 3. Autopsy results indicated her death resulted from fallen basement debris on her chest impeding her ability to breathe;carbon monoxide levels detected in her blood were insufficient to promote death. In addition, her body was located in the basement of the residence, but evidence indicated she had not reached the lower level by falling through a floor. Sullivan County District Attorney Steve Lungen said despite an investigation eliminating arson as the fire’s cause, suspicions have lingered around the case for several years.
CANADA NEWS
** A former teenager being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba after being convicted of killing a US Delta Force medic in Afghanistan has been repatriated to Canada. The Associated Press (Rob Gillies/September 29) said Omar Khadr, now 26, returned to the country Saturday. He will serve out his remaining sentence at Bath, Ontario’s maximum security prison known as Millhaven. Khadr’s lawyer John Norris said Khadr could be eligible for parole as early as next year. Initially stalling his return due to the possibility of ongoing terrorist connections, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said the United States government pushed for his return. Khadr was 15 when he was captured after killing Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer during a 2002 firefight. He was detained at Gitmo for 10 years. In 2010, he was sentenced to eight years for the Speer killing.
