Mike on Crime

THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL — Quebec Superior Court Justice James Brunton is weighing whether to allow convicted killer Valery Fabrikant to continue in his hopes of obtaining an early release from prison under the so-called faint-hope clause.
Under the faint-hope clause, a judge must first determine whether the request is well-founded before the case is presented to a jury.
Fabrikant, 68, is serving a life sentence for the murders of four colleagues at Concordia University in 1992.
But the faint-hope clause allows those sentenced to life in prison to apply for early release after serving 15 years of their sentence.
Fabrikant, who represented himself in court Thursday, told Brunton the media have painted an unfair picture of him. But the Crown argued that Fabrikant hasn’t changed an iota since the shooting rampage and should not be allowed to seek his freedom.
Brunton is expected to render a decision in the next few weeks.
(Montreal La Presse, Le Journal de Montreal)