The case of Angelique Lyn Lavallee was one that broke open doors for women who are in abusive relationship in Canada. Though there are several other cases such as the June Hurshman, Maggie MacDonald and Angus “soup” Campbell that was brought to the court years before Angelique Lyn Lavallee case did, there was no major changes to the Canadian charter of rights and freedom until after Angelique Lyn Lavallee trial. Angelique Lyn Lavallee, 22 at the time of the crime was the common law wife of Kevin “Rooster” Rust who she murdered by a bullet to the back of the head on August 31, 1986 on the second floor of their home; she was tried for second degree murder. Her case was president over by Chief Justice of the Queen’s Bench Richard Scott; crown…show more content… Dennis Dyer (one of the next door neighbour) testified stating “that around 1:59am he heard what he thought to be a gunshot six minute after he heard another shot and this time he was convicted that it was gun fire; he heard a woman say ‘[f]uck, he punched me in the face. He punched me in the face.’” (Sheehy, 2014, pp 24) his statement indicate the possible time period in which the victim was shot and also indicate that the woman who was outside crying was in fact Lavallee as she cried he had punched her which points to the fact that she was indeed being abused. The next neighbour Theodore (Ted) Hladky indicated that he could hear Rust reprimanding his wife about his sister and when the second shot was fired Lavallee ran outside saying ‘I shot him in the head. I killed him. I killed him. You guys are my witness.” (Sheehy, 2014, pp 25). Angela St. Laurent, Wendy’s friend was also brought to the witness stand to testify against Lavallee. “She describe Lavallee as a Rough woman; she…show more content… This movement came about because of the unfairness women had to endure in society; as was indicated by Sheehy “he briefly alluded to the laws history of sex discrimination when women were property of their husbands” (2014, pp 40). This time husbands could abuse their women and get away with it. So it was no surprise that Rust family was upset that Lavallee was found not guilty for second degree murder or manslaughter and decided to appeal the case. The Manitoba court of appeal over throw the acquittal and requested that they retried the case however the Supreme Court reserved the acquittal. The case cause a public debate as the press had a field day with the outcome of the trail and even publish articles about the new special battered woman syndrome; they also publish articles about battered women syndrome. This case help the feminist movement in getting wife battery as an offence and influenced many other changes to the charter of rights and
