Slain kids' dad on a mission

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James Kostelniuk corresponded with Jeffrey Anderson, convicted murderer of Kostelniuk’s ex-wife Kim Anderson (above right) and his children Juri (above left) and Lindsay Kostelniuk, in an effort to understand the tragedy. (SUPPLIED PHOTO)

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James Kostelniuk wrote a book about the senseless murders of his children and ex-wife. (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS )

It took all the courage and discipline James Kostelniuk could muster to face the man who gunned down his ex-wife and two young children in cold blood.

But the retired City of Winnipeg bus driver says he’s relieved his appearance before the National Parole Board earlier this month helped keep the convicted murderer behind bars.

"This was a 23-year preparation for me," Kostelniuk told the Free Press in an interview this week from his home just outside Winnipeg. "I was ready for it."

He was forced to relive the August 1985 case — and learn some shocking new details in the process — when he sat in the same room with the killer in British Columbia. The National Parole Board rejected a bid by Jeffrey Anderson to be given early day parole, citing the strong opposition of the victims’ loved ones as a key factor.

Kostelniuk said he struggled to maintain his composure as Anderson spoke about the crime. "It was difficult and, quite frankly, sickening to hear," Kostelniuk said.

Anderson, an American citizen who was raised in Texas, was convicted in December 1986 of three counts of first-degree murder in a case that made international headlines. He was given an automatic life sentence with no parole for at least 25 years.

Anderson first shot his estranged wife, Kim Anderson, in the face at point-blank range inside their home in Burnaby, B.C. He then fired a slug into eight-year-old Lindsay Kostelniuk, and another into her eight year-old brother, Juri Kostelniuk.

"The testimony about the murders... was chilling to hear, especially so coming directly from him," said Kostelniuk. Although their marriage ended in 1979, Kostelniuk had remained close with his ex-wife and children, who moved away to B.C.

Kostelniuk said he was particularly enraged to learn that Anderson is now admitting he repeatedly sexually assaulted the two children prior to killing them. The confessions led parole board officials to conclude they believe the real motive for the triple-slaying was to prevent Anderson from being revealed as a "sexual deviant."

They also believe he is still harbouring disturbing sexual fantasies and expressed concern about Anderson’s risk level and fears he continued to show signs of "deceptive and manipulative" behaviour.

Anderson admits he became violent with his wife, Kim, shortly after they met in Maui in 1981 and then began molesting the woman’s two children on a regular basis while they lived in the United States. He said his wife found out about the abuse and fled back to Canada, but was eventually pressured into reuniting with him in B.C.

Anderson told the parole board he pressured and manipulated Jehovah’s Witness authority figures to convince his wife that she was "scripturally obligated" to take him back. Their reunion was short-lived, and Anderson moved into an apartment across the street from his wife and her children and began stalking them on a regular basis. He also began planning their deaths, buying a 12-gauge shotgun and sawing off the barrel.

Anderson admits he walked into his wife’s home while she was speaking with her mother, who quickly hung up and called police. An officer phoned the home moments later. Anderson answered, telling them he was preparing to shoot his wife and two children. Police rushed to the scene and were greeted with the sound of gunfire.

Parole board officials asked Anderson earlier this month why he murdered the children after killing his wife out of apparent "rage." He said he didn’t really know but wanted "to get it over with as quickly as possible."

"The board is not convinced that your ‘rage’ was the sole reason for these murders. In spite of your denial, the Board believes that silencing your victims before they could expose you to the police as a sex offender was also a likely factor," the parole board wrote in response.

Kostelniuk said Anderson appeared to have a well-rehearsed narrative for parole officials and he’s glad they saw through it.

"The details of his behaviour are so humanly degrading, depraved and deviant that I saw looks of perplexity on board member’s faces as he spoke. His reasons for pulling the trigger seem so contrived. I’ve always wondered how he could live with himself knowing what he’s done. How could anyone?" said Kostelniuk.

Anderson will be eligible to apply for parole again in July 2010 and will be deported back to the U.S. if he is ever released.
Kostelniuk plans to be at that hearing as well.

"I’m going to go back, to see this through to the bitter end," he vowed.

www.mikeoncrime.com