London Vigil

June 7, 2010 permalink

Saturday evening a vigil was held for Dave Lucio, a retired London policeman killed by his former lover and child-abuse investigator Kelly Johnson.

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Lucio vigil meant to draw awareness to domestic violence

SOCIAL INJUSTICE: Men have nowhere to turn when they're the victim

Monday, June 7, 2010, By GEOFF TURNER The London Free Press, Last Updated: June 7, 2010 8:05am

It was three years ago Monday that retired London police superintendent Dave Lucio was shot to death by acting inspector Kelly Johnson, with whom Lucio had broken off a relationship.

To mark Lucio's slaying, and to draw attention to domestic violence in general, about 20 people marched down Dundas St. to London police headquarters in a candlelight vigil on the weekend.

Lucio was shot by Johnson as he pulled up to her Picton St. condominium building. Johnson then turned her 9-mm service pistol on herself.

The vigil Saturday night was the culmination of a conference called Domestic Violence Awareness Day, presented by the London Equal Parenting Committee.

Organizer Brad Charlton, co-chairperson of the committee, said the conference was meant to draw a connection between domestic violence and equal parenting issues.

"Quite often false allegations of domestic violence are used in court to deny men their rights," he said.

Dave Lucio's father, Doug, 83, who's been highly critical of police handling of his son's death, led the vigil.

Standing in front of police headquarters, candle in hand, he repeated his allegation that the 60-page report on Lucio's death was a "whitewash."

He said there needs to be more equal treatment in cases of domestic violence.

"Violence is violence whether it's men or women. There is no difference," he said.

Conference moderator Kris Titus said she got involved in domestic violence issues 12 years ago when she was separated from her husband because of a violent incident in which he struck her across the face with his hand.

She said the incident happened because of a "bi-polar condition" brought on by a thyroid problem. She said her husband was essentially mentally ill at the time.

She called the incident "an accident."

But once the matter hit the courts, she said, "the system was trying to destroy him."

Marcher Gwyneth Doty said she attended to support men who have nowhere to go when facing violence.

"It used to be a man's world and now it's a woman's world," she said.

"It's too much. It's terrible."

Barbara Jacques said it was important to stand up against violence against men.

"I've got three (grown) boys who have gone through it," she said.

geoff.turner@sunmedia.ca or follow GeoffatLFPress on Twitter.

Source: London Free Press