Family of Const. Michael Sweet, murdered in 1980, speaks out for first time
Posted April 14, 2010 4:34 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NORTH YORK Ont. – The family of a Toronto police officer murdered three decades ago spoke out for the first time, Wednesday, as his killer tries to win parole.
Const. Michael Sweet was shot during a botched tavern robbery on March 14, 1980.
The men behind the heist, Craig Munro and his brother, Jamie, refused to allow medical help and let the officer slowly bleed to death during a 90-minute standoff with police.
Craig was convicted in the murder and granted limited unescorted absences from prison in March.
The family of Sweet has demanded changes to the parole system.
Sweet’s daughter, Nicole, along with his widow and other daughters, have lobbied to keep Munro locked up, decrying his claim that he is now rehabilitated and deserves a measure of freedom.
“My dad was an honourable man and he would be horrified to know that his wife and his girls are having to deal with the torture of facing Craig Munro again and again,” Nicole told reporters at the Toronto Police Association in North York.
“I am the youngest of the three daughters, and from what I’ve been told about my dad, he would hate to know that my family is being victimized year after year because of Craig Munro.
Among those who opposed Munro’s release was Ontario Police Commissioner Julian Fantino, who was the homicide detective who led the murder investigation.
