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THE LAST SIX MINUTES: A Mother's Loss & Quest for Justice

Average rating: 5/5

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THE LAST SIX MINUTES: A Mother's Loss & Quest for Justice

by Sandra Martins-Toner

AASPIRATIONS PUBLISHING | August 23, 2009 | Trade Paperback

“The Last Six Minutes”- A Mother’s Loss & Quest for Justice     Matthew’s killers have been tried, convicted and sentenced, but Sandra Martins-Toner and her family can’t escape their grief, and the overwhelming sense of loss. They have channelled their anguish into affirmative action for victims. “The Last Six Minutes” is the true account of the random and violent murder of 16 year old Matthew Martins, and his family’s journey through the Canadian Criminal Justice System. Now the family is faced with the Killers appeal, and the torment of perhaps being subjected to yet another lengthy trial.

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Reviews

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    Rating: 5/5

    Honestly Written

    sheena griffiths

    17 months ago

    I first picked up this book because I remember following this case on our local news. I never in a million years would have guessed it would impact me the way it did. Sandra Martins-Toner writes with a pure honesty that few are willing to put forth. Sandra is honest about her feelings through the entire process good or bad. What their family has had to endure is embarrassing to the Justice System we have in place.
    Pick up this book! It is heartbreaking, but will open your eyes to a system that clearly needs work.

    Comments on this review:
    kathy kucan

    Many things in this book shocked me in ways that still have a strong hold on my heart and my sense of right and wrong.I was shocked as the book unfolded how lacking our judical system is when it pertains to the victim and the victims family!It made me realize that change needs to happen and it needs to happen NOW!None of us should wait till tragedy happens to us before we wake up to the fact a total make over of our judical system needs to happen to protect its citizens!Sandras willingness to share her raw pain and emotion brought out many tears and deep sorrow for this family!Hearing this families struggle and the strength they found to endure and form their group FACT to help other families was inspiring!This book is a MUST read!

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      helpful to you?

    Rating: 5/5

    Very worth reading

    Melissa Macklin

    2 years ago

    This book is well worth reading. It is heart wrenching to read what this family went through in search of justice for their son. I had to put it down a few times as it is very upsetting.

    Praise to Sandra for the courage to tell us the whole story of that horrible night and the aftermath. A definite view into the dark side of humanity and the lesson that justice is not always served in this country.

    A must read.

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      helpful to you?

    I read this book for my crim class at university. With this said; I would reccommend it to anyone, not just for school purposes at all! This is the most touching book I have ever read. The story will stay with you forever, and show you the true power and strength of a mothers love. I'm thankful I read The Last Six Minutes, it opened my eyes in so many ways. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in our criminal justice system, is a parent, or has been affected by sensless violence.

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      helpful to you?

    Rating: 5/5

    Beautiful

    Laura McGill

    2 years ago

    This book is beautifully written. The conviction and the passion with which Sandra Martins-Toner writes is amazing. If anyone has experienced a loss or wants a better understanding of what is involved with this kind of trauma and the Canadian Criminal Justice System, this is a must read. It was truly inspirational. After reading Sandras book, I was inspired to become involved in making changes towards the Justice system.

    The bravery that Sandra shows by writting this book while still dealing with her loss and her journey through the justice system is comparable to few. She is amazing and her book speaks volumes. Excellent, well written, beautifu and passionat. This is a book that absolutely everyone should read.

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Details

From the Publisher

“The Last Six Minutes”- A Mother’s Loss & Quest for Justice     Matthew’s killers have been tried, convicted and sentenced, but Sandra Martins-Toner and her family can’t escape their grief, and the overwhelming sense of loss. They have channelled their anguish into affirmative action for victims. “The Last Six Minutes” is the true account of the random and violent murder of 16 year old Matthew Martins, and his family’s journey through the Canadian Criminal Justice System. Now the family is faced with the Killers appeal, and the torment of perhaps being subjected to yet another lengthy trial.

From the Author

Sandra Martins-Toner, author of “The Last Six Minutes- A Mothers Loss & Quest for Justice”   Sandra Martins-Toner is the Founder and Executive Director of Families Against Crime & Trauma, (F.A.C.T.), an organization born as a result of the random and senseless murder of her sixteen year old son. Sandra now works tirelessly to help others that have lost a loved one to a violent crime. Her articles appear regularly in magazines and online publications across Canada. Sandra has witnessed first hand the imbalance in the Canadian Justice system, and believes it’s time to see the rights of the victims supersede those of the offenders.       Author’s Note   Although this is a work of non-fiction, and the story of the tragic end of my young son’s life, I have taken great care in omitting the names of the people who were witnesses to the crime, and those my son came into contact with that evening. This has enabled me to safely tell of the life and death of my child, and to remain true to what my family endured without putting anyone in danger or invading anyone’s privacy.   The details of my family’s life before, during and after the trial are my own, and I relied heavily upon the notes, journal entries and my own memories in order to share the experience.   The portions of the book where I discuss the trial or any other legal proceedings can be found by any member of the public. All judgements are placed on the Supreme Court of British Columbia’s website, and are matters of public record. I relied on these documents in order to write the statements made by the courts. I have also made sure that anything else I have disclosed has already been reported by the media, and is also available to the public.   I want to also inform anyone reading this book that the female convicted of second degree murder in our case had recently been granted an appeal, and has now been granted a second trial in the death of my son. We have been told that it could take many years to resolve, and that it is possible that her charges may be reduced, or she could be acquitted of her conviction, to walk a free woman. My family can only pray that we will not be dragged into years of court proceedings and the constant pain of having to listen to all of the horrific details of our young son’s murder.   I have decided to write a sequel to this book regardless of the second trial’s verdict. Should Katherine Quinn be absolved of her part in the killing of Matthew, we can rest knowing that Forslund will remain behind bars.   In writing this story, and sharing our personal tragedy, it is not my intention to demean any person(s) included. I have recounted the dialogue in this book to the best of my abilities and as truthfully as is humanly possible.     Sandra Martins-Toner  

Trade Paperback

224 Pages, 5.74 x 9.06 x 0.5 in

August 23, 2009

AASPIRATIONS PUBLISHING

English


0981278116
9780981278117

From Community

From the Critics

"For parents who have lost a child; the emotional trauma never ends. The pain is only compounded by the way Canada 's so-called Criminal Justice system treats families and loved ones who are left behind to pick up the pieces. Despite losing her 16 year old son to the most unimaginable crime, Sandra has found the strength to carry on and provide hope and guidance for others who have suffered through similar tragedy. This is one mother's heart-wrenching story..." Ron Bencze, Reporter, Global BC   "Written from the heart, to the heart, Sandra’s book reveals the devastating and rippling effect of a violent crime from the most soul-rending perspective imaginable — that of a mother who’s lost her child."   Tom Zytaruk Author & Journalist     Sandra Martins-Toner is a warm, honest, and unassuming young woman. She has transcended the untimely death of her son by working to bring changes to the criminal justice system. Now she has written an account of her experience in the same way she speaks: openly, from her heart and soul. Wallace G. Craig - Retired Provincial Court Judge/Author     "Sandra’s never-ending fight for justice is a battle we all have a critical stake in – her story rips the window dressing off the Canadian criminal justice system to reveal an institution awash in disgrace." John Martin: Criminologist, University of the Fraser Valley       "Having spent over twenty years as a trial lawyer, and close to twice as long immersed in the machinations of our political system, I know what energy and focus it takes to have any hope of effecting change to the "System". Sandra Martins-Toner, like Chuck Cadman before her, has channeled her grief into a constructive effort to improve the administration of justice in our country. Sandra's tireless work with FACT and, now, the willingness to detail her unimaginably painful experience in a book so as to benefit others is citizenship as it ought to be and moral courage of the highest order."   David O. Marley, BA, LLB, MSc Principal of BIAS 4 Action Public Affairs Vancouver , BC     This heart wrenching story is an inspiring "must read" for all the men   and women of Law Enforcement, and those concerned with the escalating   violent crimes plaguing our country. Families Against Crime & Trauma was forced into existence through lack of social accountability.   Judges no longer see themselves as serving the victims, and thousands of citizens are made victims by an apparently uncaring Criminal   Justice System. Victims cry out for justice, only to find the   'justice' component has been removed. Judges have long abandoned/ forgotten the reason they are there. Until they realize this, more of   our children will be murdered, and the Sandra Martins-Toner's of our   society have no other choice but to fight back . .and I support them!   Len Miller - Detective (retired) Vancouver Police Department     As a mother, I am deeply touched by this very strong, courageous woman's fight for justice in the name of her son, Matthew.   The fact that she is able to put into word her son's violent murder and her dealings with the Cimininal Justice System thereafter in such a remarkable book speaks volumes about the author.   After crying through the first 58 pages, I got it together long enough to read the whole book and am left with a feeling of complete awe.   Thank you for yor never-ending fight for justice, Sandra!   Naomi Jones Court Reporter      

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