PUPATELLO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-02-16 published
Slayer of ex-girlfriend found dead
Apparent suicide in Quebec hotel
Free on $1,500 bail when couple shot
By Betsy POWELL and Richard
BRENNAN,
Staff
Reporters
The ex-boyfriend of a woman he stalked, terrorized and last Friday
night shot to death appears to have killed himself in a Quebec
hotel room.
John KOVACS, 52, was free on bail -- on charges of criminal harassment
and threatening death -- when he ambushed Szilvia
VERES, 35,
and wounded her husband Miklos
KEMENCZY, 46, in an underground
apartment parking garage in North York.
The scenario is all too common -- and yet avoidable, says Pamela
CROSS, who expressed frustration about the process that's supposed
to keep stalkers away from their victims.
"This woman had moved on and was seeking the protection of the
criminal system and she failed to get it," said
CROSS, legal
director of Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against
Women and Children.
The minister responsible for women's issues in the Ontario government
pointed to a pilot program aimed at making better assessments
of risk in such cases. But critics say there's no reason to delay
bringing in tougher bail rules for men charged with stalking
and harassment.
Court documents show
KOVACS was released on $1,500 bail after
appearing in a Finch Ave. W. courtroom last November. Police
had charged him with three counts of criminal harassment and
one count of uttering a death threat stemming from three incidents
last year.
Police believe
KOVACS had a short-term relationship with
VERES.
They broke up last March and
VERES married
KEMENCZY in November.
The court records indicate the couple complained after he watched
a house near Steeles Ave. and Bathurst St. last August 29. On
another occasion,
KOVACS followed
VERES "from place to place"
and on October 23, he threatened to kill
KEMENCZY.
It's unclear when he was first charged, but he was released on
bail on condition he stay more than 200 metres from any place
where VERES or
KEMENCZY "live, work, attend school or happen
to be as known to you." He was also ordered not to use or possess
a cellphone. There was no condition to seek counselling.
His surety, according to court documents, was Nicolaus
SZILY,
believed to be an old friend of
KOVACS, who worked as a machinist
for an aircraft company.
KOVACS was supposed to be living at
SZILY's home in the city's west end.
SZILY could not be reached for comment last night.
Between his arrest and last Friday's shooting,
KOVACS made several
court appearances. His next court date was tomorrow.
The tragic turn of events underscores the ineffectiveness of
bail conditions and the need for courts to take a long hard look
at an alleged stalker's capacity for violence, said
CROSS.
"I really don't understand what it's going to take to get the
criminal system to understand that these are men who by nature
of the charge of criminal harassment are at extremely high risk
of re-offending," she said yesterday.
"We have advocated for some years... that the bail system in
Ontario be overhauled and there should be a requirement, not
just that a risk assessment be completed by the police, but that
that risk assessment be presented by the Crown in the bail hearings."
If the judge or justice of the peace doesn't follow the recommendation,
he or she would have to provide reasons why not, she continued.
Social
Services
Minister Sandra
PUPATELLO, responsible for women's
issues, said government, agencies and police have to keep trying
to protect women from men -- usually spouses or former lovers
who want to hurt them.
PUPATELLO admitted that restraining orders and police charges
will not stop a "crazy person from doing a crazy thing, but to
the extent we can change that, we have to,"
In December, the Liberal government released a domestic violence
action plan calling for a consistent police response to things
like restraining orders and an assessment tool for police to
determine risk of continued violence.
"In the past January, we started the pilot project in Ottawa
and North Bay in both English and French for an assessment tool
that actually determines the risk of flight, risk of violence,"
PUPATELLO said.
"My fear is that there are people who come in (to the system)
and they are back out... (and the question is) should they be
back out and we are not going to know the answer to that until
we implement this kind of review."
New Democratic Party member of provincial parliament Marilyn
CHURLEY (Toronto-Danforth) pointed to past inquests into the
deaths of women killed by spouses and ex-lovers and asked how
many more woman have to die before government follows through.
"The recommendations are there and they are just not being followed
up on, and I was just stricken when I heard about this latest
death," CHURLEY said.
"There are huge problems with underenforcement of restraining
orders," she added.
After witnesses: reported
KOVACS had fled the scene in his silver
Honda, police issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of first-degree
murder and attempted murder.
Around 4 p.m. Monday, workers at a hotel in Rivière-du-Loup,
about 200 kilometres northeast of Quebec City, discovered
KOVACS
dead of a single gunshot wound. He was identified through fingerprints.
A firearm was recovered at the scene, but police don't yet know
if it was the one used to shoot the couple.
Toronto police have not been able to locate
KOVACS' next of kin
and they are asking the public for help. They believe he is originally
from eastern Europe. Police also had difficulty tracking down
VERES's relatives, but they have notified her mother, who lives
in Hungary, homicide Detective Terry
BROWNE said yesterday.
KEMENCZY is recovering in hospital after undergoing emergency
surgery. The investigation is continuing.
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PUPIN o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-05-28 published
PUPIN,
Alfred
Peacefully, at the North York General Hospital, on Thursday,
May 26, 2005. Beloved husband of Janina. Loving father of Anthony
and Halina. Friends may call at the Turner and Porter Funeral
Home, 436 Roncesvalles Ave. (at Howard Park) on Sunday from 2-4
and 6-8 p.m. Rosary Prayers 7 p.m. Sunday. Funeral service at
St. Stanislaus Church, 12 Denison Ave., on Monday at 11: 00 o'clock.
Interment Mount Hope Cemetery.
He was a man with a sense of adventure and imagination that inspired
us all. His travels took him across Europe and the Middle East,
and he was a proud member of the Polish Army in World War 2.
His travels then took him on to Canada which he discovered from
coast to coast and made his home for over 50 years. We love him
and he is always with us.
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PUPO o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-04-18 published
SISCA,
Frank "
Francesco" (1925-2005)
It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing
of a dear and loving husband, father, nonno, brother, brother-in-law,
and uncle, on Saturday, April 16, 2005 in his 80th year, at the
Trillium Health Centre, Mississauga, Ontario. Frank was a devoted
and beloved husband of Ida (née
AQUINO) for 57 years. Loving
father of daughter Rose, son Joe and daughter-in-law Lorna, and
daughter Marie and son-in-law Nick. Proud and cherished nonno
of Julie, Jason, Paul, Ashley, and Danielle. Predeceased by father
Giuseppe and mother Rosina (née DE
MARIA.)
Loving brother of
Teresa and brother-in-law, the late Eugenio
SIRIANNI.
Brother-in-law
of Carmelina and the late Domenico
CLAUSI,
Mariannina and Frank
BIAFORE,
Adele
AQUINO, Emilia and Felice
PUPO, the late Rosaria
and Aldo PUPO,
Giovanni and Maria
AQUINO, Vincenzo and Carmela
AQUINO,
Virginia and Vittorio
SCAGLIONE, Biagio and Anna
AQUINO.
Sadly missed by numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews,
and Friends. Visitations will take place at Scoatt Funeral Home,
420 Dundas Street East, Mississauga (one block west of Cawthra
Rd.), 905-272-4040, on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6: 00-9:00
p.m. A Funeral Mass will take place Wednesday, April 20, 2005
at 1: 00 p.m. in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 921 Flagship Drive,
Mississauga, Ontario. Entombment will be at Glen Oaks Memorial
Gardens, Oakville, Ontario. As an expression of sympathy, donations
to the Trillium Health Centre - Oncology Department or Cancer
Society. The family would like to express sincere appreciation
to Dr. Soheil
SAEEDI and Dr. Terry
KWAN and to the kind and dedicated
nurses at the Trillium Health Centre.
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PUPPI o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-09-05 published
PUPPI,
Plinio
Plinio PUPPI passed away on Friday, September 2, 2005 at the
age of 79. Although his illness had been quietly ravaging his
body, cancer could not destroy his spirit and inner strength.
Always a man of humility and great integrity, Plinio dedicated
his life to his family and to his profession as a bricklaying
contractor. He was deeply loved, respected and admired by family,
Friends and all who worked with him. Plinio will be forever remembered
and cherished by his wife
Nina
(ORSOLA,) his children, Isabella
and her husband Slavko, Alan and his partner Diana, Harvey and
his wife Jayne, and by his grandchildren, Tanya, Sara, Alex,
and Aaron. He is also loved and will be missed by his siblings
in Italy, Elide, Marianna and Giuseppe and their families as
well as many relatives near and far. In his last days he was
comforted by much love and kindness shown by all. A man of many
talents and interests, Plinio had boundless energy, courage and
generosity. Relatives and Friends are welcomed at Bernardo Funeral
Home, 2960 Dufferin St. (two streets south of Lawrence Ave.)
on Tuesday, September 6 from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Mass of Christian
Burial on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 at Saint Thomas Aquinas
Catholic Church, 640 Glenholme Ave., east of Dufferin Street, at
10 a.m. Entombment in Holy Cross Cemetery (on Bayview Ave. at
Langstaff Rd.). Those who wish, may send flowers or a donation
to a charity of their choice. Plinio's family is grateful for
his life and for the many people who walked with him during his
journey. We cherish his many sacrifices and thank him for his
great affection and generosity. His spirit will live on in his
achievements on earth and with his family.
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