Federal government trumpets victims rights in wake of Turcotte release

OTTAWA – The federal Conservatives are seizing on the controversial release of a Quebec doctor who killed his two children to trumpet plans for new rules governing those found not criminally responsible by the courts.

Guy Turcotte, found not criminally responsible for killing his three-year-old daughter and five-year-old son, was freed Wednesday after just 46 months under psychiatric care.

His release infuriated Isabelle Gaston, his ex-wife and mother to the murdered children.

It also raised the hackles of the Harper government, which says it’s going to tighten up the rules on such releases to place more emphasis on the rights of victims.

Heritage Minister James Moore says the justice system failed Gaston and legislation in the new year will move victims to the centre of the process.

He suggests the new law may require longer waits between formal reviews of the status of people held in psychiatric hospitals after being found not criminally responsible.