Unlucky to the End : The Story of Janise Marie Gamble

On 12 March 1976 Calgary police officer Allan Keith Harrison was shot and killed following a robbery at the Inglewood Credit Union. By the end of the year, Janise Marie Gamble, a twenty-one year-old girl from Peterborough, Ontario, had been convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to the mandatory twenty-five to life. It was clear that Gamble had not fired the shot that killed Harrison, but it was less clear whether she had participated in the robbery that had led to his murder. On 12 March 1976 Calgary police officer Allan Keith Harrison was shot and killed following a robbery at the Ingleside Credit Union. By the end of that year, Janise Marie Gamble, a twenty-one year-old girl from small-town Ontario, had been convicted of murder and given a sentence of life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for twenty-five years. It was clear that Gamble had not fired the shot that killed Harrison, but it was less clear whether she had participated in the robbery that had led to his murder.

In Unlucky to the End Richard Pound provides a thought-provoking examination of the circumstances of the robbery, the subsequent flight of the suspects and murder of the police officer, and the hostage scene that led to the death of one of the robbers. Using transcripts from the Calgary trial he explores Gamble's conviction and details the efforts that, after fourteen years in the desolate Kingston Prison for Women, finally led to her parole.

Pound argues that Gamble's first degree murder sentence was based on legislation not in force at the time the crime was committed, resulting in a much harsher sentence than would have applied under the existing law. The ongoing enforcement of that sentence violated the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment contained in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

On March 12th 1976 Calgary police officer Allan Keith Harrison was shot and killed following a robbery at the Ingleside Credit Union. By the end of the year, Janise Marie Gamble, a twenty-one year-old girl from Peterborough, Ontario, had been convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to the mandatory twenty-five years to life. It was clear that Gamble had not fired the shot that killed Harrison, but it was less clear whether she had participated in the robbery that had led to his murder. This book is a detailed and thought-provoking examination of Gamble's abusive relationship with her partner, the circumstances of the robbery, the subsequent flight of the suspects and murder of the policeman, as well as the hostage scene that led to the death of one of the robbers. The author uses transcripts from the Calgary trial to explore Gamble's conviction and details the efforts that, after fourteen years in the desolate Kingston Prison for Women, finally led to her parole In Unlucky to the End Richard Pound provides a detailed and thought-provoking examination of the circumstances of the robbery, the subsequent flight of the suspects and murder of the policeman, as well as the hostage scene that led to the death of one of the robbers. He uses transcripts from the Calgary trial to explore Gamble's conviction and details the efforts that, after fourteen years in the desolate Kingston Prison for Women, finally led to her parole. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction 1 Prologue 2 Vancouver 3 Robbery and Shootout 4 Initial Contacts and Opening Negotiations 5 Hostage Siege 6 End Game 7 On Trial for Murder 8 Legal Submissions, Charge to the Jury, and Verdict 9 Appeal and Rejection 10 Second Thoughts 11 Plan B 12 Supreme Court of Canada 13 Unlucky to the End 14 Conclusion Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W Y Z On 12 March 1976 Calgary police officer Allan Keith Harrison was shot and killed following a robbery at the Ingleside Credit Union. By the end of the year, Janise Marie Gamble, a twenty-one year-old woman from Peterborough, Ontario, had been convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to the mandatory twenty-five to life.