It would appear that Allan Dwayne Schoenborn lucked out when Justice of the Peace Fraser Hodge became the person who would decide whether or not he (Schoenborn) should be released on bail after the would be killer was arrested for threatening a student and the principal at the school his children attended. I wonder if Schoenborn bought a lottery ticket before he murdered his three children after he was released on bail.
Fraser Hodge obviously has a bleeding heart when it comes to violent men who are having custody issues with the mother of their children, and I for one would like to know why that is, and what motivated him to ignore Schoenborn’s lengthy criminal record when he decided to take a chance (a chance he obviously knew he was taking when he said, “I want you to remember that you got a good break on this one. Don’t let it go wrong.”) on Schoenborn and released him back into the community.
It sounds to me like Hodge was a little reluctant to release the would Schoenborn back into the community (and he should have been), and that he threw caution to the wind and cast responsible, good judgement aside when Schoenborn told the JP his sob story in his own effort to be released on bail. I bet Schoenborn told quite a story, and that his story made him out to be more of a victim than the prinicipal and the student he is accused of threatening to cause bodily harm. I wonder if the JP needed a kleenex while he listened to the “woe is me” story Schoenborn spun.
Fraser Hodge got this bail hearing “oh so wrong” and I for one think he needs to be held accountable for his insubordination. He literally failed in his duty, and the worst part of it is, it sounds like he knew he was taking a big risk by releasing Schoenborn into the community. His words say as much.
I’ll also say that the JP’s judgement to release Schoenborn was more than a little clouded, especially since he had Schoenborn’s criminal history right there in front of him. Hodge may not have put the murder weapon in Schoenborn hands, but he certainly provided Schoenborn with the opportunity he needed to snuff out his children’s lives, and so did the mother of the children. I want to know what it was that prevented Hodge from keeping the mental incapicated, and obviously career criminal, in jail.
What heart strings did Schoenborn tug on to convince Hodge that it was okay to release him on bail, that he would be a good boy, and that he would not commit any further criminal offenses while he was on bail? Hodge was either conned, or he just didn’t give a f**k, when he released Schoenborn back into the community.
It is also my understanding that the mother of three murder victims hasn’t been ruled out as a suspect herself yet, and that RCMP Assistant Commissioner Al MacIntyre is not commenting on that aspect of the case, though he did say that in his heart the mother isn’t a suspect and that he could be proven wrong later on. What’s up with that?
In this tragic story a lot of blame is going to be spread around, but in my opinion and at the end of the day, it is JP Fraser Hodge’s incompetency and bleeding heart that allowed a man to murder his three children.
Blame who you will, but as far as I’m concerned, Hodge should have known better and I expect more from the people who are supposed to help keep criminals off the street. The RCMP will, and should have a lot to answer for too, though I am beginning to have my doubts about just how much of argument they put up when the were trying to convince the JP to keep Schoenborn behind bars.
I wonder how many people who have been charged with a less serious offense than Schoenborn was charged with have been refused bail by Hodge, and how many of them had as lengthy a criminal record as Shoenborn had. I think a good investigative journalist might want to look into that.
Interesting observation: The Chief Judge who defended Hodge and said that Hodge didn’t have all the facts before him when he granted Schoenborn bail, but then I read yesterday that Hodge was aware of Schoenborn’s lengthy criminal past, in fact he even indicated to Schoenborn that some of the charges were old when he said to Schoenborn, “I want you to remember that you got a good break on this one. Don’t let it go wrong.” Now what was that about Hodge not having all the facts before him? Either he had the facts, or he didn’t, which is it?
Headline: Merrit suspect was struggling with separation from kids: court documents
Related Headline: Merrit residents seek answers in grisly murders






2 responses so far ↓
1 kikajoro // Apr 17, 2008 at 2:35 PM
FRASER HODGE POWER TRIPPING!!!
Could it be that newly appointed JPP Fraser Hodge was power tripping when he superceded the advice and evidence presented to him by the RCMP and subsequently cost three children their lives???
That is my question?? Does anyone know when they call a JPP at home if they have been drinking??? Is it the same as if you are an ambulance attendant on call?? Where you have a pager and know you are on call and so subsequently do not drink or otherwise engage in any activity that could impair your judgement???
What are the rules that govern this process?? How do we know that Mr. Hodge didn ‘t just down three cocktails and witness his favourite sports rowing team lose their match????
Perhaps he was agitated at the time of the call….or under the influence….Who governs the governors in this matter??? Did the police go over to Fraser Hodge’s Delta Home to conduct a breathalyzer test to make sure Fraser Hodge was not under the influence of any substances when he made this crazy decision. What about medications??? Is Mr. Hodge currently taking any prescription medi ctions that could impact his judgment????
Obviously there is some accountability process? Some checks and balances????
What are they???
2 Canadian Gypsy // Apr 17, 2008 at 5:30 PM
Fraser Hodge really f**ked up and he’s lying about the situation in my opinion.
The way I see it he takes his judicial duties in stride and probably has a very nonchalant attitude about his role as an officer of the court.
There’s something dirty about Hodge that is yet to be uncovered, and it may or may not relate to this particular case. Nevertheless he should come under some serious scrutiny, and I think there should be an inquiry into the way he handled the Schoenborn case. Somebody should be checking this guy out, literally picking his professional and personal life apart, after all it was ruling that left 3 innocent children dead, and he has to be accountable for some of the blame in this case.
You’re right, he could have very well be drinking, but I think he was definitely in a state other than normal when he released Schoenborn on bail.
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