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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-06-28, Page 10Page 10 June 28, 2006 • The Huron Expositor News Entomology helps determine time of Harper's death Cheryl Heath Some "fresh" 47 -year-old evidence was served up Monday at the Ontario Court of Appeal hearing into Steven Truscott's mur- der conviction. • Specifically, the impor- tance of the state of the bug infestation found on 12 - year -old Lynne Harper's body when it was discovered in Lawson's Bush on June 11, 1959 was not investigat- ed until only recently. Perhaps ironically, a key figure to testify, Sherman Brown, has been involved with the Truscott case since 1959. Brown, who was working for the Attorney General of Ontario's biology section - later to become known as the Centre of Forensic Science - was initially hand- ed two jars containing mag- gots, eggs and larvae by crime scene investigator Cpl. Harry Sayeau, who himself testified before the court on June 22. Brown, who was working under Dr. Noble Sharpe in 1959, reported his job entailed reviewing the facts surrounding the findings on Sherman Brown Harper's body, including ascertaining there were no fibres connecting Truscott to Lynne. He also studied one lesion full of maggots, and a sec- ond lesion that contained a one-quarter inch preserved maggot. Brown decided to remove ' the samples from the jars they were in so that they could develop to their full form on meat. The result, he said, is that he discerned both blue -bot- tle blowflies and flesh flies were present. When James Lockyer, a member of Truscott's Association in Defence of the Wrongfully Convicted (AIDWYC) team, said today's ento- mologists noted Brown was "way ahead of his time," he replied that allowing the maggots to become flies had signifi- cance. However, Brown added, he had no previous forensic experience. Lockyer questioned a section of Brown's notes that read the large mag- got might be a "hope," but when asked the meaning Brown replied, "I don't know." Brown, who was a rook- ie when he helped with the investigation, said the length of the longest maggot suggested the bugs. were in their first stage of development. Brown added his knowl- edge on the issue was limited as the study of forensic entomology was in its infancy. "Unfortunately, I didn't see the long time span I'd be answering to," said Brown during a session with the Crown. Dr. Neal Haskell, a U.S. NOTICE OF 2ND PUBLIC MEETING CONCERNING CHANGES TO A PROPOSED.OFFICAL PLAN AMENDMENT AFFECTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF HURON EAST • TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Huron East will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipality of Huron East Council Chambers (72 Main St. Seaforth) to consider a proposed Official Plan Amendment under Section 17 of the Planning Act R.S.O. 1990, as amended. This meeting is further to a previous public meeting held on April 25, 2006 that initially considered Official Plan Amendment No. 2. The text and map amendments affect the Huron East Official Plan and are detailed below under Purpose and Effect. ANY PERSON may attend the public meeting and/or make written or verbal representation either in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed official plan amendment. If a person or public body files a notice of appeal of a decision of the Municipality of Huron East in respect of the proposed Plan Amendment, but does not make oral submissions at the public meeting or make written submissions to the Municipality of Huron East before the proposed Plan Amendment is adopted, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss all or part of the appeal. If you wish to be notified of the adoption of the proposed official plan amendment, you must make a written request to the Municipality of Huron East at the address below. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION and complete copies of the proposed amendment are available at the Huron East Municipal Office, Huron County Planning and Development Department, Seaforth Public Library and Brussels Public Library and on the website: www.huroneast.com DATED, AT THE MUNICIPALITY OF HURON EAST THIS 28th DAY OF June 2006. J.R. McLachlan, Clerk, Municipality of Huron East P. O. Box610, 72 Main Street, Seaforth, Ontario NOK IWO (519) 527-0160 or 1-888-868-7513 Toll Free Purpose and Effect Official Plan Amendment No. 2: The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the changes made to Official Plan Amendment No.2 since the April 25, 2006 pub- lic meeting. 1. Affected Lands The proposed Official Plan amendment consists of several map changes affecting specific properties noted below. The amendment also consists of several text changes that can impact all the lands within Huron East. A complete copy of Official Plan Amendment # 2 is available at the Municipal Office. 2. Further changes made to OPA#2 since the April 25th meeting Location OR Type of Change Additional Changes Proposed to OPA #2 Map Changes Correct Road Name from `Bandon Line' and change to 'Johnston Line' between Lots 10& 11 on the • Grey Ward map Map Clarification to show existing Natural Environment (these natural environment areas are not being changedby this OPA) Urban Settlement Add policy to allow a secondary residential unit to the rear or above a main commercial use in Section 6.3.3.3.4.v) Highway Commercial Correction to Section 6.4 Hamlets, Introduction and Location indicating there are 15 (not 14) hamlets or settlements to include the area n Orth and northeast of Seaforth Additimal change to text (Section 6.7.4. xi) Urban Natural Environment Section require Conservation Authority .(CA) approval in Adjacent lands to Natural Environment Areas; the CA may also require an Environment Impact Study as part of their roval Recreation Add to start of Section 7.5.v) b) `New recreational development v11 require a recreational designation.' based forensic entomologist, took the stand in the after- noon. During a lengthy exami- nation by Crown attorney Greg Tweney, Haskell sup- ported the original patholo- gist's . contention that Lynne died in the early evening hours of June 9, 1959. Using the so-called "insect session method," Haskell said he was able to discern what types of flies - specifi- cally the green -bottle blowfly and flesh fly - were present on the victim's body at the time of death. That conclusion, he said, means "that the victim was colonized by blowflies prior to sunset on June 9, 1959." Haskell went on to tell the court that today's science is "light years ahead" of what. his forefathers used. The keys to ascertaining Lynne's time of death through entomology would require reviewing the avail- able specimen, reviewing' weather records, and know- ing what the environmental conditions were. The length of the maggots was also important, he said. Haskell noted one of the problems of the murder cases of yesteryear was "there was a disconnect" between entomologists and law-enforcement agencies. During a further examina- tion by the Crown, Haskell said Brown's assertion the blowflies were a different colour than what Brown found could be easily explained by the fact the type of blowfly doesn't nec- essarily correlate to its colour. Haskell was scheduled to continue testifying Tuesday morning. +rqd••,,• 1 NOTICE TO THE RATEPAYERS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CENTRAL HURON Interim Tax Bills second installment is due June 29th, 2006 If you wish to use the monthly pre -authorized pay- ment plan, please contact the Municipal Office prior to December 31, 2006 for the 2007 taxation year.