Murdered woman’s family seeks justice

BY LAUREL MYERS

The family of the 25-year-old woman murdered in her home last month, want stiffer sentences for young offenders.

Lindsay Lemieux was found dead in her Val Caron home Nov. 10 as a result of multiple stab wounds. A 14-year-old boy, who can’t be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), has been charged with second degree murder and remains in police custody awaiting his bail hearing.

The family and friends of Lemieux are concerned if the youth is found guilty, he will be released from prison in less than seven years, the maximum time which can currently be served under the YCJA.

They have set up a group on Facebook to solicit support to make changes to the YCJA, entitled, Make a difference in memory and honour of Lindsay Lemieux.

“The harsh reality is that any one of us could possibly bump into him within three to five years,” said Jessica Young, Linsday’s step-sister, on the site.

“She (Lindsay) was betrayed in the most vicious and personal way possible... in her home...her safe place.”

The family sent out a call for help through the Facebook site for people to send letters to government representatives - locally, provincially and federally - to make necessary changes to the YCJA and “help us to turn this horrible tragedy into something positive,” Young wrote.

The Facebook group has attracted close to 900 members, including family and friends, as well as people who didn’t know Lemieux, but have concerns about justice for youth offenders who commit murder..

The family declined an interview with Northern Life, “to keep the spotlight on this group without being in the spotlight ourselves,” Young wrote in an email to the newspaper.

 “I believe it is important to keep our focus on the changes that we are looking for in the YCJA.”

Young wrote on the Facebook site that together, “we can make a difference. If not for Lindsay herself, perhaps for future families who are impacted by such an awful event.”