KATELYN SAMPSON aged 7 MURDERED (TORONTO)Aug.3, 2008

[waabzy]

Judge cleared in Katelynn complaint

Katelynn Sampson's battered body was found Aug. 3, 2008

 http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/556215


No sign child was in peril, judicial council says
Dec 19, 2008 04:30 AM
Joanna Smith
Staff Reporter

The Ontario Judicial Council has dismissed a complaint against the judge who granted custody of 7-year-old Katelynn Sampson to the woman now charged with first-degree murder in her death.

Katelynn was found dead in an apartment in the Queen St. W. and Lansdowne Ave. area in August.

Her guardian Donna Irving ? whose criminal record includes convictions involving prostitution, drugs and violence ? and her common-law partner Warren Johnson have since been charged with first-degree murder.

Outrage over the death helped prompt the provincial government to introduce child custody reforms after the Toronto Star uncovered court transcripts revealing Ontario Court Justice Debra Paulseth asked few questions before awarding full and final custody to Irving in June.

Ontario New Democrat justice critic and MPP Peter Kormos (Welland) filed a complaint against Paulseth with the Ontario Judicial Council shortly after the death.

After reviewing the court file, transcripts and audiotape of the three appearances before Paulseth at the family courthouse in the Jarvis St. and Gerrard St. E. area, the council dismissed the complaint.

"The Council investigated the complaint, and dismissed it at the earliest opportunity, without seeking a response from the judge," Ontario Court of Justice spokesperson Kirby Chown said in a statement.

"The members observed that there was no indication or suggestion that the child was in peril or that her best interests were not being met while being cared for by the friend," the council wrote.

The case was a civil proceeding between private parties, and Sampson "conceded that this arrangement was in her child's best interests" when she consented to Irving having custody, the council wrote. "It would not have been appropriate for the judge, on her own initiative, to undertake an extensive inquiry in order to ascertain character flaws by ordering a criminal record check or [an] assessment of the friend or her partner."

Legislation introduced last month will require potential guardians to undergo police background checks, among other conditions.

A man who answered the phone at Paulseth's home yesterday said the judge would not comment.http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/556215

[Adrian]

Foster Parents should have full criminal checks, I believe. Also a course, on what fostering is about, and a psychiatric test, and evaluation. Also I think they should be checked, a few times a year, to see how they are coping, with children who have issues.

They also need to know, how various cultures are, what do they need to get involved in.Children are precious, and our future leaders, they should neverbe treated as "less than".

A child killed in foster care, because of abuse, neglect by the caregivers. Someone has to answer to that.Workers, cops and others. This has to stop.

Her guardian Donna Irving ? whose criminal record includes convictions involving prostitution, drugs and violence ? and her common-law partner Warren Johnson have since been charged with first-degree murder.
                                                         

RIP Katelynn Sampson , I am so hurt that you suffered. (((hug)), and I just know you are now in the arms of the Creator.

[waabzy]

Adrian, Katelynn was found dead just hours after Carolyn was. I know Carolyn met Katelynn and helped her cross over. I'm pretty sure Carolynn would have known her mom as well.
The judge who gave this woman custody should be charged and disbarred!!! Its just further injustice for another small child who died a horrible death, needlessly.