Murdered woman's son to speak at CJI benefit

In the fall of 1999, Vancouver’s seniors lived in fear, police were searching for a killer targeting the elderly and town hall meetings were called to quell fears and arm seniors with ways to stay safe.

In the span of a few short weeks, more than half a dozen home invasions had taken place, mostly targeting seniors on Vancouver’s east side. One innocent elderly woman had been murdered inside her home and no one knew who was responsible for these heinous crimes.

Then came Remembrance Day, a day East Vancouver resident Harry Davis will never forget.

That day, a drug addict, desperate for his next fix, broke into his 84-year-old mother’s home, robbed and beat her, leaving her to die.

That evening, Davis rushed to the hospital where his mother was clinging to life after the violent home invasion.

“She died the next day,” he said sadly.

That awful Nov. 12, he was at the hospital to collect his mother’s things, waiting for someone, anyone, to provide direction about how to deal with being a victim of crime.

“I was given a brochure on how to deal with grief and then the doctors and nurses said ‘see ya.’”

He went home feeling completely lost.

At the same time he was trying to absorb that his mother was murdered, the killer was still out there.

Seniors were panicked and the crimes dominated the TV and print media.

All the while, Davis was left to deal with his grief, which quickly turned to anger and hate. His whole family was angry.

Soon after, police did catch the man who murdered his mom.

He was also charged in the murder of the other Vancouver senior and was responsible for turning the town upside down by preying on seniors’ homes.

The killer, a severe drug addict in his 40s with a long history of crime, was behind bars and the community could finally find peace again.

Davis continued feeling awful and decided to try couselling in hopes he would find his own peace.

It was more a dent in his wallet than help, he said.

Davis then did something out of the ordinary. With his mom’s killer behind bars, he tracked down the offender’s family.

“I tracked them down and I knocked on the door. I wanted to be around people who felt as much pain and loss as I did and I knew they would. I spent three days talking to them.”

He learned that the killer’s mother, who lived in Saskatchewan, had disowned her son after hearing what he had done. It was other family members Davis spoke with.

It was a step towards healing, he felt. Just before the trial was to take place, the accused pleaded guilty.

A judge sentenced him to 17 years without parole. He currently resides in a medium security jail.

It was a relief to the Davis family, but Harry’s emotions were still eating him alive.

One day while he was out for a walk, Davis ran into a neighbour. He opened up to her, telling her about what happened and how it has changed him.

“She told me about CJI (Community Justice Initiative) and victim-offender mediation. My neighbour offered me more than I had received from anyone.”

Davis phoned the non-profit organization and said he wanted to come to visit the office in downtown Langley. CJI has 25 years of experience providing restorative justice-based programs, including organizing meetings between victim and offender.

“I walked in the door and there was duct tape on the carpet and wood panel walls. I knew right then it was the kind of place for me. It’s the most wonderful organization.”

With the willingness of both parties, CJI directors arranged for Davis to meet the man who killed his mother.

CJI has also helped Reena Virk’s parents meet with one of their daughter’s killers, and assisted many other victims of crime who find closure and empowerment in meeting the offender.

“I actually got to ask him [the offender] why he did it,” said Davis.

“We spent five hours talking. It was so emotionally exhausting I think I slept for a day and a half,” he said.

In speaking with his mom’s killer, Davis came to the realization that the man who sat in front of him was not the man who killed his mom.

“Drugs took over his mind. He’s remorseful and I don’t think he’ll screw up again,” Davis said. “I remind him of that all the time, that he better be good when he gets out because I don’t want my mother to have died for nothing. He owes me.”

As tough as it is for people to understand, Davis visits him in jail once a month. In a way, he helps keep him accountable.

Davis also attends CJI’s informal victims of crime support group which meets for a potluck dinner once a month and where people speak openly about how they are feeling.

For Davis, the hatred is gone.

“I don’t have the hatred I had for eight years. Those feelings were killing me.”

Davis admits that not a lot of people understand how he could befriend the very man who went on a crime spree, preying on the elderly and callously murdering his mother and another innocent elderly woman.

“I have not forgiven him for what he has done but I want to make sure he will do better. It also has given me closure in a way I didn’t feel from him being put away,” he said.

He’s grateful for CJI, so much so that he is moving to Langley for a fresh start, he said.

“From how welcomed I feel at CJI, I know Langley will be the same where neighbour cares for neighbour.”

He believes CJI may struggle to get donations because what they do is hard to understand for some people who believe murderers shouldn’t get second chances.

“The majority of convicted killers can be rehabilitated, I believe. Not the psychopaths like [Clifford] Olson, of course.”

Davis will speak in more detail about what happened to him and how victim-offender mediation changed his life at CJI’s annual fundraising gala on Friday (Nov. 6) at the Langley Golf Centre banquet hall.

Along with Davis, guests at the gala will also hear input from the man who killed his mom.

The evening is called “Ordinary People with Extraordinary Stories” and includes dinner, silent auction and amazing stories of hope and healing. The event starts at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $65. All funds raised will go to restorative justice programs.

For more information call 604-534-5515.

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