Post by Dean Robinson on Nov 24, 2007 13:28:55 GMT -5
Victim set to leave accused, friend says
Sat, November 24, 2007
By JANE SIMS, SUN MEDIA
Deborah Devine told her best friend she felt trapped in her relationship.
For more than a decade, she had lived with Loranzo Kimpe, 40, and was helping raise his challenged son, Robert.
Darla Giffin testified yesterday at Kimpe's second-degree murder trial that despite the affection shown by Kimpe, Devine, 33, wasn't happy.
Kimpe, 40, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in connection with Devine's death on June 1, 2006.
Devine's body was found in the master bedroom of the couple's Deveron Crescent home when firefighters were battling an intentionally set blaze.
Kimpe has pleaded guilty to arson.
Giffin told the jury she and Devine became friends at Wheable Adult Education Centre in 1999 when they were completing their high school diplomas.
She heard Devine's complaints about having to care for Robert, Kimpe's son, who suffers from Asperger syndrome, a form of autism. Two weeks before her death, she told Giffin she wanted to end the relationship with Kimpe.
"She asked me if I wanted to get a place with her, but I couldn't afford it. The job we had didn't pay enough," Giffin said.
Both women worked part- time for a cleaning service specializing in preparing new homes for new owners.
About that time, Robert was placed back into the care of Kimpe's mother.
Giffin described going to downtown bars with Devine and Devine's interest in a deejay named Ricardo.
If Kimpe came with them, Devine didn't talk to Ricardo and never introduced him to her spouse.
About a week before, Giffin had gone with the couple to Grand Bend, where she noticed Kimpe trying hard to show his love to Devine.
He bought her whatever she wanted and was affectionate, she said.
A few days before her death, Giffin said she and Devine went shopping, then to Victoria Park to buy marijuana. Devine dropped Giffin off after her tanning session.
Giffin and Devine were supposed to go out to a bar the night she died, she said.
Devine's parents testified to Devine's troubled past.
Eva and Ted Devine described how they placed their daughter with Children's Aid at age 15 because of her behaviour.
Eva Devine admitted there were aggravating features to her daughter's personality that were hard to deal with.
At 16, she left the group home and headed for Toronto, where she was arrested in a prostitution ring.
She lived at home after that until receiving reluctant approval from her parents to marry at 17. There was physical abuse in the marriage and it lasted only six months.
Eva Devine agreed with defence lawyer Chris Dobson that her husband thought Robert was "retarded."
She didn't think so.
"I thought what Robert needed all his life was a kick in the ass," she said.
She said she was shocked Kimpe, the man they called Stretch, was responsible for her daughter's death.
Ted Devine said Kimpe was "a gentle giant" and his daughter had "a good temper."
"Sometimes the tongue would go off before the head went into gear," he said.
The trial continues Monday.
Sat, November 24, 2007
By JANE SIMS, SUN MEDIA
Deborah Devine told her best friend she felt trapped in her relationship.
For more than a decade, she had lived with Loranzo Kimpe, 40, and was helping raise his challenged son, Robert.
Darla Giffin testified yesterday at Kimpe's second-degree murder trial that despite the affection shown by Kimpe, Devine, 33, wasn't happy.
Kimpe, 40, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in connection with Devine's death on June 1, 2006.
Devine's body was found in the master bedroom of the couple's Deveron Crescent home when firefighters were battling an intentionally set blaze.
Kimpe has pleaded guilty to arson.
Giffin told the jury she and Devine became friends at Wheable Adult Education Centre in 1999 when they were completing their high school diplomas.
She heard Devine's complaints about having to care for Robert, Kimpe's son, who suffers from Asperger syndrome, a form of autism. Two weeks before her death, she told Giffin she wanted to end the relationship with Kimpe.
"She asked me if I wanted to get a place with her, but I couldn't afford it. The job we had didn't pay enough," Giffin said.
Both women worked part- time for a cleaning service specializing in preparing new homes for new owners.
About that time, Robert was placed back into the care of Kimpe's mother.
Giffin described going to downtown bars with Devine and Devine's interest in a deejay named Ricardo.
If Kimpe came with them, Devine didn't talk to Ricardo and never introduced him to her spouse.
About a week before, Giffin had gone with the couple to Grand Bend, where she noticed Kimpe trying hard to show his love to Devine.
He bought her whatever she wanted and was affectionate, she said.
A few days before her death, Giffin said she and Devine went shopping, then to Victoria Park to buy marijuana. Devine dropped Giffin off after her tanning session.
Giffin and Devine were supposed to go out to a bar the night she died, she said.
Devine's parents testified to Devine's troubled past.
Eva and Ted Devine described how they placed their daughter with Children's Aid at age 15 because of her behaviour.
Eva Devine admitted there were aggravating features to her daughter's personality that were hard to deal with.
At 16, she left the group home and headed for Toronto, where she was arrested in a prostitution ring.
She lived at home after that until receiving reluctant approval from her parents to marry at 17. There was physical abuse in the marriage and it lasted only six months.
Eva Devine agreed with defence lawyer Chris Dobson that her husband thought Robert was "retarded."
She didn't think so.
"I thought what Robert needed all his life was a kick in the ass," she said.
She said she was shocked Kimpe, the man they called Stretch, was responsible for her daughter's death.
Ted Devine said Kimpe was "a gentle giant" and his daughter had "a good temper."
"Sometimes the tongue would go off before the head went into gear," he said.
The trial continues Monday.