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What we learned from Day 1 of serial killer Bruce McArthur’s sentencing

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WARNING: This article contains graphic content.

Inside a downtown Toronto courtroom packed for the first day of sentencing submissions in the case of serial killer Bruce McArthur, the Crown prosecutor began with a grave acknowledgement.

“For years, members of the LGBTQ community believed that they were being targeted by a killer,” Michael Cantlon said in his opening address Monday.

“They were right.”

Cantlon went on to describe an unprecedented Toronto police investigation, revealing new details about past police contact with McArthur, new information about the deaths of the eight men McArthur murdered, and revelations about the ways he preyed on Toronto’s LGBTQ community.

Here are some major take-aways from the Day 1 of the serial killer’s sentencing.

How detectives broke the case

A combination of two key pieces of evidence lead Toronto police to “crack the case” of serial killer Bruce McArthur wide open, Cantlon said.

First, there was surveillance video that showed a glimpse of a red van outside the home of Andrew Kinsman, McArthur’s final victim. Second, there was a simple note in Kinsman’s calendar from June 26, 2017, the day he went missing: “Bruce.”

Toronto police Det. David Dickinson was able to determine the make and model of McArthur’s van — a special-edition 2004 Dodge Caravan. He then searched registry information to produce 6,181 matches for similar vehicles. Of those, five owners were named Bruce.

But only McArthur had any recent contact with Toronto police — he had been arrested, but not charged, in 2016 over a report the 67-year-old had attempted to strangle a man.

McArthur was made a person of interest in Kinsman’s disappearance. It was the start of the months-long investigation that led to his Jan. 18. 2018, arrest.

Two weeks after he was interviewed as part of Project Houston, McArthur purchased a new van: the 2004 Dodge Caravan that would lead to his arrest.

McArthur’s plan for a ninth victim and his rescue

McArthur was under police surveillance on Jan. 18, 2018, when a younger man was spotted entering his Thorncliffe Park apartment. It was then that Toronto police made the decision to arrest the killer, Cantlon said, reading the statement of facts.

The man told McArthur his name was “John.” He said he was a recent immigrant to Canada who was married and whose family and friends were unaware of his sexual orientation. The man told police he had been intimate with McArthur on several occasions, and on that day McArthur had asked if anyone knew the two were meeting.

“John told McArthur it was a secret and no one knew,” Cantlon said.

The two arrived at McArthur’s apartment, where the killer told the man to go to his bedroom. McArthur returned with handcuffs and told him “they were going to try something different.”

He then put a black bag over the man’s head. The man took it off then McArthur tried to tape his mouth closed.

That’s when police, “due to exigent circumstances, knocked on the door and arrested Mr. McArthur.”

Forensic analysis later revealed McArthur had a USB drive containing nine subfolders — one for each of the men he had killed , and a ninth labelled “John.”

That folder contained photos of the man police found handcuffed to McArthur’s bed.

On the day of Kinsman’s murder, forensic analysis found, McArthur had searched for “John” and downloaded photos of him from social media.

How McArthur ‘staged’ his victims

Court heard McArthur’s bedroom was a “frequent” site of the killings, most of which were made possible under the pretence of sex.

The investigation uncovered what Cantlon called “post-offence rituals,” including that McArthur posed his victims, took photos of them and kept some of their belongings.

McArthur took photos of Kinsman, Kayhan, Kanagaratnam, Selim Esen, Soroush Mahmudi and Dean Lisowick after killing them. Forensic analysis showed McArthur looked at these photos, which were organized into separate folders, “long after the killings.”

The 2016 choking incident

Cantlon described new, detailed information about a June 20, 2016, incident in which a man told police McArthur had attempted to choke him, but the killer was released without charges.

The victim reported McArthur showed up at his place of work and asked him to meet later that evening in his van in a parking lot. The man did so and reported finding McArthur had removed the seat behind the driver’s seat so that there was room to lie down, revealing a plastic sheet on the floor of the van and a fur coat on top of that.

McArthur asked the victim to lie on the coat and instructed him to put an arm behind his back. Then, “with a look of determination on his face,” he “grabbed the victim’s throat and started strangling him,” Cantlon said.

“What do you want from me,” the victim asked. McArthur did not respond and “continued squeezing the larynx” of the victim, who was unable to swallow properly for a week, Cantlon said.

The victim managed to roll away and escaped the van. He later called 911.

McArthur went to the police station on his own and was arrested, but gave an exculpatory statement.

“An officer released Mr. McArthur without charges, believing his statement to be credible,” Cantlon said.

Police later located photos of the victim on McArther’s electronic devices. In some of those images, he is seen wearing a fur coat that “appears identical” to the one seen in photographs of McArthur’s victims.

The similar lives of the people he killed

McArthur’s eight victims shared several things in common, court heard, including ties to Toronto’s Gay Village and a “social life” within the community. Many also met and corresponded with McArthur through dating apps.

They also had physical similarities, including that most had facial hair or a beard. Six victims were immigrants of South Asian of Middle Eastern descent.

Read more: Eight men, eight stories: What we know about serial killer Bruce McArthur’s victims

“Most of the deceased had traits that made victimization more likely or harder to detect. Some were forced to live parts of their lives in secret because of their orientation. Some lacked stable housing,” according to the statement of facts.

“There is evidence that Mr. McArthur sought out and exploited these vulnerabilities to continue his crimes undetected,” it reads.

What police found in McArthur’s van

Investigators located a significant amount of evidence inside McArthur’s two vans: the 2004 Dodge Caravan he’d attempted to get rid of at a wrecking yard in Courtice, Ont., and a 2017 van he later bought.

That included: the DNA of some of McArthur’s victims; a metal bar wrapped in tape that contained Esen and Kinsman’s DNA; dark brown leather lacing, later found to contain Navaratnam’s DNA; and the fur coat police believe McArthur used to pose with his victims, in a hidden compartment.

Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline. 

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors. 

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity. 

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement. 

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level. 

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet. 

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.

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