April 11 Toronto Lawyer Barbara […]
When
1980-04-11
Description
April 11 Toronto Lawyer Barbara Schlifer was assaulted and murdered at her apartment building on Leuty Avenue. This case sparked outrage and much media attention. On May 6, 1980, 500 women staged an angry "Take Back the Night" march through the Beach neighbourhood to protest the killing, and violence against women. There were few leads in the case. In May 1980, both CHUM–FM and "City Pulse" news on CITY–TV speculated that Schlifer might have been killed in a case of "lesbian rage." There was no evidence to support this speculation, and the theory was soon dropped. On May 2, 1984, Fernand Arthur Robinson, who had been only fifteen at the time of the crime, was found guilty of first degree murder in the case and was sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for twenty-five years.
All Places
The BeachesTorontoAll People
Fernand Arthur RobinsonBarbara SchliferAll Organizations
CITY-TVAll Citations
"The Story the Jury Didn't Hear about Schlifer's Murderer," Toronto Star, afternoon ed., 3 May 1984, p. A5."Sex Mags May Be Clue: Found Near Slain Woman's Apartment House," Toronto Sun, Sunday ed., 13 April 1980, p. 4"Police Hunt Killer of Newly Qualified Woman Lawyer," Toronto Star, Saturday ed., 12 April 1980, pp. A1, A17"New Lawyer Slain on Way to Celebration," Globe and Mail, weekend ed., 12 April 1980, p. 5"Murdered Woman Was Devoted to Her Parents," Toronto Sun, Sunday ed., 13 April 1980, p. 4Kirk Makin, "Rape Conviction, Juvenile Record Kept from Jurors," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 3 May 1984, pp. 1, 12"Jury Takes 3 Days to Reach Verdict That Jails Killer for Life," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 3 May 1984, pp. 1, 12Wendy Darroch, "Robinson Shrugs, Smirks as He Gets Life for Slaying Schlifer," Toronto Star, afternoon ed., 3 May 1984, pp. A1, A4Chris Bearchell, "The Road from Terror to Rage," Body Politic, no. 64 (1980), p. 11Chris Bearchell, "Murder and the Myth of Lesbian Rage," Body Politic, no. 66 (1980), p. 43
