Her birth was way, way sadder than her death. Janet and Jamie Bassett of Christopher Lake, SK start a campaign to have the Governor-General either suspend or reduce Latimer's sentence. Ottawa real estate lawyer, Paul Dioguardi starts a petition calling on Ottawa to use the section of the Criminal Code that allows sentences to be shortened on compassionate grounds. We're quarreling with the severity of the penalty on the facts. The Royal Prerogative in the Criminal Code allows a person convicted of murder to ask the cabinet for a full pardon or a reduced sentence.
Carbon monoxide is the cause of both deaths.
This is 19 days after Robert Latimer was convicted and at the height of the public outpouring of support for Mr. Latimer. The intervenors are only allowed to submit written arguments. Defense lawyers argue for a three year suspended sentence. There are five hours of legal argument. Latimer surrendered himself into custody for the appeal hearing but was released on bail at the end of the day.