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Jody Elliott in his younger days, which his mom remembers fondly. (Photo contributed)
Note: 10/04/07
The quote in paragraph 14 has been altered since the story was originally published. The quote as it first appeared was taken out of its intended context and appeared inaccurate due to a transcription error on the reporter’s part. Kelowna.com regrets the error.
By Joe Fries
Almost two weeks after the last of four men accused in the killing of Jody Elliott was sentenced, the victim’s mother has finally spoken out – and she isn’t happy.
Lizette Elliott told Kelowna.com by phone from her home in Alberta that she is not pleased with the end result of legal proceedings against the four men, which ended with three of them pleading guilty to manslaughter and the other pleading guilty to second-degree murder.
They were all initially charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Nov. 2, 2005 murder and dismemberment of 25-year-old Jody. The manslaughter sentences ranged from 8.5 to 11 years, while the murder conviction carried a life sentence with parole eligibility after 10 years.
Elliott feels her son’s killers got away with a proverbial slap on the wrist, especially since she’s been told by corrections officials that one of them, Robert Juker, was released from prison on March 12.
“I think it’s just a great big laugh,” she said. “I don’t think in this case you can use the word justice.”
Further, she’s told that Grant Fralic, who pleaded guilty to murder, will be eligible for day parole from the Ontario prison where he’s currently being held in 2012 – just seven years after he was first locked up.
The blame, Elliott charged, falls squarely at the feet of Crown prosecutor Martin Nadon.
“He’s supposed to be doing the thinking for my child. He’s supposed to be the one who finds out the truth about my child and why these people should get the maximum sentence.”
According to the still-grieving mother, the Crown cited a weak case against Juker, Daniel Mader and Ramoncito Viejon as the reason it accepted their guilty pleas to the lesser offence.
“The only insight I got – and it was a recording on Nadon’s side – was because Fralic was the head guy… and he doesn’t have much of a case” with the others. “(Nadon) named Mader in particular.”
It still bothers her that her victim impact statement was never read out in court and that investigators couldn’t come up with enough evidence to charge the people who ordered her son’s death and who delivered him to his killers, even though Nadon said cops had prime suspects in mind for those roles.
Elliott also took offence to the description of her son that Nadon used in court, that being a violent, low-level drug dealer who ripped off competitors.
She thinks Nadon was “more or less saying (Jody) had that coming for what he did… well nobody deserves that,” even if her son “was no angel.”
In similar cases, she continued, the prosecutor should say: “Although this person didn’t live up to a lot of our expectations (he or she) was still somebody’s child.”
Elliott recalls fondly her only child’s younger years growing up in Edmonton and the attraction he seemed to have for other kids and animals. She remembers him cleaning up at a nearby gas station at the age of seven or eight in exchange for hockey cards.
When the family moved to Kelowna in the mid-90s, Jody’s trouble with school, made worse by reading difficulties, saw him try alternate education before ending without a diploma. He later worked for a few years for a hot-tub manufacturer, a job he loved, before starting a welding apprenticeship that ended when he was laid off.
While Elliott admits “there was a lot of things that we did that was wrong,” she insists “there was always love in our home.”
She has some advice for parents whose kids might be dabbling with illicit substances.
“If you know your children are doing drugs, always talk to them. Talk to them about getting help – but let the help start at home.”
joe@kelowna.com
250-575-4303
- The full story of the torture and murder of Jody Elliott
- Jody Elliott in profile
- Jody Elliott's killers in profile
- Update: 8.5 years for final case in murder of Jody Elliott
- Case closed: Final guilty plea imminent in grisly 2005 murder case
4 Responses to “‘I don’t think in this case you can use the word justice’”
Tags: daniel mader, grant fralic, jody elliott, lizette elliott, manslaughter, martin nadon, murder, ramoncito viejon, robert juker
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Mr. Fries NEVER DID OR EVER WILL I even think, let alone say, Jody, did not live up to a lot of “our” expectations.
I was of the impression that this article was to let the world know that there was a whole other side to my son, the person that most other people did not know.
But once again, just like with the justice system, might I add, after finally mustering up the guts to read the article was I again disappointed.
Of all the good Jody did, the love and laughther he gave that I told you about, you never even made mention of???
The following might actually give your readers a more accurate insight into his life:
“With a strong outer shell, yet a heart full of gold. So many stories in his mysterious eyes to be told. He believed in his Family and he wore his name proud. He would test you’re emotions to be sure you were true and if you had his trust there was nothing in the world he would not do for you. He was tame like a lamb, yet wild as a horse. He could catch your attention with the wit of his style and capture your breath with his beautiful smile. He was strong in the mind, with his heart on his sleeve. He is now free to fly and we’re free to believe that he will protect us like always from his place in the sky”.
RIP my son and to everyone out there always remember that Jody was the pride and joy of my life – in a big sense, he was my life and only those who live in glass houses can throw stones.
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Just wanted to clear something up here, Jody’s mom called me today and was very upset because she was misquoted in this article….Jody’s mom DID NOT AND WOULD NEVER SAY “Although he didn’t live up to a lot of our expectations,” Elliott said, “he was still somebody’s child.” Jody had a good heart and a good spirit and him mom never thought of him as not living up to her or anyones expectations EVER! That is just something she would NEVER NEVER say.
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Very nicely said Lizette, I couldnt of said it better, much love.
♥ RIP Jody ♥
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Lizette:
After reading this story (linked from a CBC website)I’m saddened tremendously by the events that took place the night your son was murdered.
No one deserves that fate, no matter what they’ve done in their lives. People who have done things that are wrong can still be very good, loving people, people who just need someone to reach out and help them. I’m sorry that somehow, even though many in the community knew your son and knew his problems, were not able to help him; in this, we have failed you and your son. I am sorry.
I hope that somehow out of this, laws can be changed and made harsher on those who are involved in crime rings and drugs. Those who have hurt your son have not received the punishment they were due.
Please continue discussion on the forum: link