Anglais

Toronto police on how they caught Bruce McArthur: ‘We got aggressive and thank goodness we did’

Published

5 années ago

février 12, 2019

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The weather suddenly changed in early December 2017, when Toronto police investigators obtained a judge’s permission to covertly enter serial killer Bruce McArthur’s apartment — and the patterns of the self-employed landscaper naturally shifted.

Police had been surveilling McArthur for months, as a suspect in the death of Toronto man Andrew Kinsman. Detectives had established when he came and went from this Thorncliffe Park apartment, travelling to jobs around the city, often leaving at 9 a.m. and not returning until after dark.

Insp. Hank Idsinga, right, says serial killer Bruce McArthur "hid in plain sight," going undetected for years with his soft-spoken demeanour. At left is fellow lead investigator Det. David Dickinson. — Insp. Hank Idsinga, right, says serial killer Bruce McArthur « hid in plain sight, » going undetected for years with his soft-spoken demeanour. At left is fellow lead investigator Det. David Dickinson. (Richard Lautens / Toronto Star)

Snow and cold temperatures changed everything at a crucial time in their probe.

“It made it very difficult to predict anything that he was going to do,” Det. David Dickinson, a lead investigator on the McArthur investigation, said in an interview Monday.

Nonetheless, police went ahead with a surreptitious entry on December 7, 2017, copying a USB drive, and 45 per cent of an old desktop computer hard drive before they realized McArthur was on his way back and had to pull out, after only about an hour. They didn’t know it yet, but they had what they needed.

As heard in court last week, during sentencing submissions after McArthur, 67, pleaded guilty to eight counts of first-degree murder, it was through that search that Toronto police found key evidence: photos of deceased men within the killer’s digital files.

Dickinson noted the photos had been deleted and were cached, meaning they could have been wiped by the computer at any time. It’s possible that, had police gone in a week later, “we may never have found them,” he said.

Discovered on Jan. 17, 2018 — after more than a month of police sifting through roughly 100,000 images — the photos were sufficient grounds to arrest McArthur, which they’d planned to do within a few days, after obtaining the required search warrants. In the meantime, police put McArthur under round-the-clock surveillance with the caveat that he wasn’t to be alone with anyone.

It was only 24 hours later when they had to intervene, after watching McArthur enter his apartment with a man now known only as “John” — a gay recent immigrant, like many of McArthur’s victims. Police would later find that McArthur had kept a folder of photos of each of his eight victims, before and after death, and had created a ninth for “John.”

Ontario Superior Court judge John McMahon said in his sentencing decision last week that he had “no hesitation in concluding that if it were not for the police intervention … John would have been the ninth victim of Mr. McArthur.”

Dickinson said the decision to arrest McArthur once he was seen with “John” was immediate. What followed were a “very stressful” few minutes before the arrest, including an agonizing wait for the only functioning elevator to McArthur’s 19th-floor unit.

“We knocked on his door with the intent that, should he not answer it, we were going through regardless,” Dickinson said.

Ontario Superior Court judge John McMahon said in his sentencing decision last week that he had “no hesitation in concluding that if it were not for the police intervention ... John would have been the ninth victim of Mr. McArthur.” — Ontario Superior Court judge John McMahon said in his sentencing decision last week that he had “no hesitation in concluding that if it were not for the police intervention … John would have been the ninth victim of Mr. McArthur.” (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

McArthur, he said, did answer the door and “was surprised.”

McArthur was sentenced Friday to life in prison, with no chance of parole for 25 years, when he is 91. Court heard how a break in the case came when police were investigating Kinsman, McArthur’s final victim, who went missing in June 2017. Police found a note on Kinsman’s calendar on the day he went missing, saying “Bruce,” then used surveillance camera footage to zero in on a 2004 red Dodge Caravan.

Cross-referencing the vehicle make and model with owners named Bruce, Dickinson narrowed in on McArthur, while sifting through the records at his dining room table.

Quick to give credit to officers on the Project Prism team, Dickinson said there were times when investigators got “lucky,” including during their search for McArthur’s red van. After they identified McArthur as the owner of the van, and found it in Bowmanville at a residence connected to McArthur, it soon went missing for about two weeks.

It turned out McArthur had “junked” the van, or brought it to a wrecking yard, something Dickinson said he initially thought was suspicious, but may have just been because the van was breaking down. A natural next step in the investigation was to canvass wrecking yards, and Det.-Const. Josh McKenzie and Det.-Const. Patrick Platte soon located the van at a Courtice wrecking yard.

Unlike most wrecking yards, which quickly destroy cars, the van was mostly intact because the yard often salvages parts.

“We got lucky that it was 90 per cent intact. Finding the vehicle was a big day,” Dickinson said.

The men Bruce McArthur killed: They are, top, from left to right: Kirushnakumar Kanagaratnam, Majeed Kayhan, Skandaraj (Skanda) Navaratnam and Abdulbasir Faizi; and bottom, from left to right: Selim Esen, Soroush Mahmudi, Dean Lisowick and Andrew Kinsman. (Star Wire Services)

McArthur was the only one of five van owners named Bruce to have had a recent encounter with police: in 2016, a man reported that McArthur attempted to strangle him, which resulted in McArthur being arrested but released with no charges.

Professional misconduct charges have since been laid against Toronto police Sgt. Paul Gauthier, who is alleged to have conducted a negligent investigation, including taking only a written statement from the victim when policy required it be taken on video. In a letter written by Gauthier and obtained by the Star last week, he denies his investigation was negligent.

Shortly after McMahon’s decision came down Friday, Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders faced pointed questions about the investigation at a news conference at police headquarters — including whether mistakes had been made in not identifying McArthur as a killer sooner.

Court heard confirmation last week that McArthur was interviewed as a witness in 2013 during Project Houston, an investigation into the killer’s first three victims: Skandaraj Navaratnam, Abdulbasir Faizi and Majeed Kayhan. According to an agreed statement of facts, McArthur confirmed he knew Navaratnam through a friend, and that he’d employed Kayhan and had a sexual relationship with him. An analysis of Faizi’s belongings, meanwhile, showed he knew McArthur.

Saunders told reporters last week that he was committed to transparency around prior investigations, but said “I can tell you from what I know, things were done properly.”

In an interview Monday, Toronto police Insp. Hank Idsinga, also a lead investigator in the case, said “it wasn’t uncommon to interview somebody who knew all three of those men. Very small, close, tight-knit community — everybody knew everybody,” he said.

Former Ontario Court of Appeal judge Gloria Epstein is currently reviewing how Toronto police investigate missing persons cases, and has asked that her mandate be expanded to allow for her to examine how the force handled the probe of McArthur. Some within Toronto’s LGBTQ community and beyond argue more should be done, and that there should be a public inquiry into why McArthur wasn’t caught sooner.

Saunders said he is committed to transparency and that the service will co-operate with any review, no matter which form it takes.

Asked if he could understand how McArthur went undetected for years, Idsinga said the killer is much like he presented last week, shuffling through the courtroom and sitting in the prisoner’s box.

Toronto police officers defended the investigation that led to Bruce McArthur’s arrest. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years on Friday after pleading guilty to killing eight men with ties to the city’s gay village.

“He’s not intimidating by any stretch of the imagination, he’s soft-spoken and he just blended right in. Hid in plain sight,” Idsinga said.

With the court phase of the McArthur case completed, Dickinson said an opportunity has arisen to make a change, and pursue an interest he had early on in his career — and one that was key the McArthur probe. He will soon be moving to the K9 unit.

“It was those dogs who found the remains of those eight men, and it was those dogs who ultimately assisted us with bringing closure to the families and at least be able to return the remains, which was something I wasn’t sure we’d ever be able to do.”

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

Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

Published

3 années ago

août 10, 2021

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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

Published

3 années ago

juillet 23, 2021

admin

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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Anglais

MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

Published

3 années ago

juillet 23, 2021

admin

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.