MONTREAL - A group of women’s shelter employees protested outside Premier Pauline Marois’ Montreal office Wednesday afternoon to demand a coroner’s inquest into the deaths of seven women killed in separate cases of conjugal violence.
“How many women have been killed in this time without protection? That’s the question we ask,” said Louise Riendeau, spokesperson of the women’s shelter.
One of the victims, Maria Altagracia Dorval, had even filed a complaint with Montreal police before her estranged husband stabbed her to death in October 2010.
Police told CTV Montreal that they have beefed up protection for such people since the incident.
“After that homicide we put in a risk-assessment tool to better help our police officers to evaluate the risk in conjugal violence dossiers,” said Montreal police representative Vincent Richer of the conjugal violence division.
Representatives of the provincial government say that they are waiting to evaluate a new domestic violence program before making any more changes.
“I don't close the door to an investigation but at this point in time I think it's a little premature,” said Public Security Minister Stephane Bergeron.
