Why did Bruce McArthur plead guilty? Police hint answers are coming
Jan 30, 2019
"Why Bruce McArthur, 67, chose to plead guilty to eight charges of first-degree murder was not explained in court Tuesday morning, although police hinted that answers still may come.
McArthur's admission in a Toronto courthouse that he killed eight men between 2010 and 2017 wasn't entirely surprising — police had said earlier a "significant development" was coming. But guilty pleas can be rare in big trials because, during the lead-up, the defence can determine the strength of the Crown's case, according to B.C. criminal lawyer Marilyn Sandford....
Outside the courthouse, Toronto police Det. David Dickinson, one of the lead investigators in the case, indicated he would comment on McArthur's reasons for pleading guilty at a later time. Insp. Hank Idsinga, the head of the investigation, also suggested that more information about McArthur's motivation to plead guilty may be forthcoming.
"We'll see what else comes out in court next week," he told CBC News.
Sentence to be decided next week
Ontario Superior Court Justice John McMahon opened proceedings Tuesday by asking McArthur if he understood exactly what it meant to plead guilty and warning him that he could not plead guilty to things he didn't do just to get the case over....
McMahon said the guilty plea meant he had to sentence McArthur to life imprisonment. Whether he will serve his sentences concurrently or consecutively will be decided next week at a sentencing hearing that begins Monday....
More information on nature of crimes expected
It is still not known how McArthur killed his victims. But what the court did hear Tuesday, in an abridged version of an agreed statement of facts, was that all eight murders were planned and deliberate, that six were sexual in nature, that McArthur had kept some of his victims' items as souvenirs and "staged" some of them, although what that meant was not clarified.
The full details of those crimes are expected to be revealed next week at a sentencing hearing where friends and family will deliver victim impact statements....
McMahon said it would be in everybody's interest for the case to wrap up next week, "to have closure for the family, for Mr. McArthur, for everybody involved."
Why did Bruce McArthur plead guilty? Police hint answers are coming | CBC News
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Ryan FlanaganVerified account @flanaganryan Jan 29
Sentencing hearing for
Bruce McArthur starts next Monday at 10 a.m.
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