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.