Thread by @meakoopa

I’m in the court room for the sentencing hearing for Bruce McArthur.

Footage of McArthur’s 2004 Dodge Caravan became the means by which he was linked to Kinsman’s disappearance. It was recovered from a wreckage shop, where it was left by McArthur’s family. Family is not being linked to the homicides.

Four male DNA profiles (from blood, semen, and constituents) were found in the van (Kinsman, McArthur, Esen among them).

McArthur’s residence and computer were covertly entered and surveyed. DNA swabs and USB of computer contents taken. Photos of Kinsman dating back to 2007 were found. Photographs taken after murder were also among them.

The details have become gruesome and specific and not sure people need them from me in their feed.

If you need them I suggest following @cmcdonaldglobal, who is transcribing quite precisely, which I appreciate.

The court is now enumerating McArthur’s lies about his relationship with Kinsman.

Kinsman evidence is wrapped. Court moves on to evidence for murder of Navaratnam.

McArthur kept a file folder of images of Navaratnam (killed in 2010), including an image saved of his MISSING poster along with two of his other victims.

McArthur emailed image of Navaratnam to himself 9 days before killing Selim Esen.

Difficulty of material has led to 20 minute recess.

we’re back.

the human remains exhumed on site are being enumerated.

McArthur restaged multiple victims in photos on or in a fur coat, with unlit cigar dangling from mouth

Court is reminded McArthur’s victim, Kirushna Kanagaratnam, remained unreported as missing bc there were fears if found he would subsequently be deported

In 2016, McArthur attempted to strangle another victim, again using the fur coat as a prop. This victim managed to escape. He called 911 on McArthur, who was arrested.

He was then released by @TorontoPolice.

Photos of escaped victim were added to McArthur’s victim file folder.

McArthur’s photo archive correspond to the 8 victims, including indications he didn’t know some of their names; they are labelled “Turkish guy,” “#4” etc.

Facts have now been read. Recessing for lunch. Victim impact statements will follow.

Methodologies aside (which were unbelievably consistent), the biggest thing we learned was how spectacularly @TorontoPolice botched this case, and how many people then lost their lives because of it.

They had Bruce McArthur caught red handed attempting a murder, and let him go.

friend of Navaratnam takes the stand to give his victim impact statement. “He was unbeatable at Scrabble.”

family of Esen demands answers for why “8 gay men” were allowed to be murdered undetected by @TorontoPolice. “This is a homophobic serial killing.”

“Selim spent his life asking why. We will continue his quest, asking why.”

“I am less trustful of people now,” says Kinsman’s sister. “I miss Andrew very much.”

Kinsman’s friends give their testimonies about the damage done to their lives.

Greg Dunn talks about exploiting how similar he and friend Andrew Kinsman looked so that he could pretend to be his brother and visit him in the hospital during his gall bladder surgery.

Kinsman’s upstairs neighbour now speaks.

I will say the Crown ought to be commended in its work in assembling actual community voices for these impact statements, rather than only direct family.

It helps to hear, and to see these voices being heard.

andrew’s friend and neighbour talks about his careful, painful survival of a cancer that was supposed to be terminal, and his grumpy and generous healing process that restored their building and grew into a friendship.

“He hung pictures for me, and teased me for being so short. He talked to my birds, bc he knew they needed social interaction, but wasn’t sure what their favourite subjects were. They loved him more than me.”

we are recessed again.

Man who was friends with Kinsman and knew four other victims takes stand. He knew McArthur too. Last words said to Andrew were harsh. “I always knew we had time to resolve it. We had time.”

“I didn’t see the wolf in the fold.”

Statement is read from Dean Lisowick’s daughter. Crown attorney’s voice breaking.

Deanna Dudley from the Metropolitan Church providing a community impact statement.

(the church, for those of u who don’t know, is the first church to perform a legal gay marriage on earth, and is largely LGBT serving)

The Church performed the vigil we attended a few months ago, back when only 5 members were known, and a 6th in case more men were found. Another vigil will be held this Sunday evening.

“It is impossible to overstate the impact these murders have had on Toronto’s LGBT community.”

Dudley talks about queer chosen family, and the defendant’s predation upon that family.

McArthur’s face is grey and his back is stooped. His hands, in handcuffs, are bandaged at the fingertips, and his nails are long.

“We are a gentle, angry people, and we are singing for our lives.”

Dudley says those lyrics were written when another killer stalked our community, AIDS, and that they think of them often lately.

Dudley tells us about the Church’s efforts to turn the site into something other than a body dumping ground.

In the spring there will be daffodils.

Representative from @The519 now speaking.

“We are hurting, we are frightened, we are angry, we are grieving, we are trying to heal.”

519 emphasizes the fact that it took a white man’s disappearance to act, and that commensurate losses in trans community never mobilize the same attention.

“Our collective future is scarred.” Church-Wellesley physically feels unsafe to many now, says @The519.

519 underlines the @TorontoPolice’s systemic campaign of victim-blaming following the murders, and the lasting anxiety that campaign produced.

Court to be reconvened with victim impact statements tomorrow.

These will be made public in full, judge decides.

Sentencing of Bruce McArthur will conclude this week.