Robert Latimer
Robert William "Bob" Latimer (born March 13, 1953) is a former canola farmer, who was the subject of the case R. Vs. Latimer, a controversial case on euthanasia, disabled rights, and rights of the parent, for killing his severely disabled daughter, Tracy Latimer. Prior to incarceration, he lived in Wilkie, Saskatchewan, on a wheat and canola farm with his wife, Laura, and their four children.
Tracy Latimer, and her death
Tracy Latimer was born November 23, 1980. An interruption of oxygen during the birth resulted in severe cerebral palsy, leading to disabilities treatable only by medications. On October 24, 1993, Laura Latimer found Tracy dead. She had died under the care of her father while the rest of the family was at church. At first, Robert Latimer claimed she had died in her sleep, but when an autopsy revealed high levels of carbon monoxide in her blood, he admitted to attaching a hose to the exhaust pipe of his truck into the cab, and placing Tracy in the cab. Robert Latimer claimed his actions were out of love and wish to put her out of her suffering.
Controversy
The legal trial afterwards sparked a nationwide controversy over the right of parents to take the lives of their children, the ability of people to decide when to end the suffering of people, and by extension, euthanasia. Latimer was tried for first-degree murder, but the jury convicted him of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 10 years. In June 1996, the original Crown prosecutor was charged with attempting to obstruct justice through jury tampering. In February 1997, the Supreme Court of Canada ordered a new trial for Mr. Latimer because of the allegations of jury tampering. After a new trial, Mr. Latimer was again found guilty of second-degree murder in late 1997.Latimer began serving his prison sentence on January 18, 2001. Latimer was released on day parole in March 2008 and was granted full parole, effective December 6, 2010.
