Alberta man beaten in Mexico - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Deelow · 05-09-2007, 12:00 AM

Haven't seen this posted yet.
Anyway, chances are he will die. Mexican investigators say he fell off a balcony. His family says BS. This seems to be happening more and more. Is it time for Ottawa to start making some other threats in order to get these shady investigations to end?
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

"He received serious head injuries, four blows to the head and he's been beaten very bad on his back," Murray Toews said by phone.
"They're playing typical tourism crap. Like it happened to other Canadians, it's just always an 'accident.' Nobody's seen nothing and no witnesses, of course."
However, Bello Melchor Rodriguez y Carrillo, attorney-general for the state of Quintana Roo, dismissed the claim.
"He wasn't beaten. He fell from a second storey of the hotel where he was staying," he told the Canadian Press. "That's the report that we have from the security guard from the hotel, and the report we're getting from the hospital too."

Incinerator · 05-09-2007, 12:32 AM

I don't know, maybe this will make us Canadians think twice before heading down south for some sun in the land of tacos...

ken0042 · 05-09-2007, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deelow

Mexican investigators say he fell off a balcony. His family says BS. This seems to be happening more and more. Is it time for Ottawa to start making some other threats in order to get these shady investigations to end?

I suppose my question is this- why do we automatically assume the family is correct? The media is taking what they say as gospel; with no chance that the people who found him were correct.

On the news they interviewed the brother, and he didn't even know the details of the injuries. (He said 3 or 4 fractures to the skull.) However the hospital says his injuries are consistant with a fall. Granted I would be more inclined to believe a Canadian or American doctor, but in the absence of any proof, we have already started pointing fingers at a conspiracy.

Log · 05-09-2007, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

I suppose my question is this- why do we automatically assume the family is correct? The media is taking what they say as gospel; with no chance that the people who found him were correct.

On the news they interviewed the brother, and he didn't even know the details of the injuries. (He said 3 or 4 fractures to the skull.) However the hospital says his injuries are consistant with a fall. Granted I would be more inclined to believe a Canadian or American doctor, but in the absence of any proof, we have already started pointing fingers at a conspiracy.

The only problem with that is the Mexican authorities don't have a good track record with these types of things.

That being said, hopefully the guy makes a full recovery soon!

Bobblehead · 05-09-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

I suppose my question is this- why do we automatically assume the family is correct? The media is taking what they say as gospel; with no chance that the people who found him were correct.

On the news they interviewed the brother, and he didn't even know the details of the injuries. (He said 3 or 4 fractures to the skull.) However the hospital says his injuries are consistant with a fall. Granted I would be more inclined to believe a Canadian or American doctor, but in the absence of any proof, we have already started pointing fingers at a conspiracy.

I think previous unsolved murders and their shoddy investigations have soured people on the Mexican legal system.

It makes me think twice about going there. I'll probably consider Cuba before Mexico.

ken0042 · 05-09-2007, 08:39 AM

OK, the following question is offered to stir up conversation and not meant to accuse people:

How is automatically assuming this group of people are lying based on the actions of others of the same background not considered racism?

Do I think it is likely that he was attacked? Yes. However I would like to see what an independant authority has to say before I pass judegement. I was reading in the Sun that an RCMP officer from Mexico City will be visiting the family today. I'd be curious to see what his findings are.

Table 5 · 05-09-2007, 08:45 AM

Oh please, leave the racism crap out of it, Ken.

Mexico is known as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, do you really expect people to believe what comes out of their mouths? This is a land where visitors are advised to carry around wads of cash, so they can pay off the cops, of course people are going to question their authority.

The fact of the matter is, he might have indeed falled of a balcony. But with Mexicos track record, I dont blame anyone for not believing them. Racism has nothing to do with it, history does.

Captain Sensible · 05-09-2007, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

OK, the following question is offered to stir up conversation and not meant to accuse people:

How is automatically assuming this group of people are lying based on the actions of others of the same background not considered racism?

Do I think it is likely that he was attacked? Yes. However I would like to see what an independant authority has to say before I pass judegement. I was reading in the Sun that an RCMP officer from Mexico City will be visiting the family today. I'd be curious to see what his findings are.

"Bello Melchor Rodriguez y Carrillo, attorney-general for the state of Quintana Roo"

This is the same guy who was handling at least one of the other suspicious cases. I think it's safe to say they are full of it.

Bobblehead · 05-09-2007, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

OK, the following question is offered to stir up conversation and not meant to accuse people:

How is automatically assuming this group of people are lying based on the actions of others of the same background not considered racism?

Do I think it is likely that he was attacked? Yes. However I would like to see what an independant authority has to say before I pass judegement. I was reading in the Sun that an RCMP officer from Mexico City will be visiting the family today. I'd be curious to see what his findings are.

That is absolutely sensible. It may be media sensationalism.

But if this is similar to the recent past then this will be 4 murders in less than 18 months where the Mexican authorities have tried to bury the case. That starts to become a pretty damning record. I'm not saying that because of race, I'm saying that because this is the third time in less than 2 years it has happened.

fredr123 · 05-09-2007, 08:50 AM

Every time a story like this pops up, I can't help but making all sorts of assumptions. In my personal experience (which is quite limited, albeit) violence is not usually random. Guys getting beat up in bars and what not often do something to incite an attack. I'm not saying it happened in this case or in others but there is a lot going on in the background in these stories that never comes through in the press.

Deelow · 05-09-2007, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

Every time a story like this pops up, I can't help but making all sorts of assumptions. In my personal experience (which is quite limited, albeit) violence is not usually violent. Guys getting beat up in bars and what not often do something to incite an attack. I'm not saying it happened in this case or in others but there is a lot going on in the background in these stories that never comes through in the press.

Right. Like the couple that were stabbed and beaten in their hotel room by a security guard? I'm sure they brought that on themselves. For the most part tourists are not there to fight or cause trouble. Especially with the locals. These are random attacks and robberies and are almost always unprovoked. It's a little different than a bar fight at the Back Alley.

Eagle Eye · 05-09-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deelow

Right. Like the couple that were stabbed and beaten in their hotel room by a security guard? I'm sure they brought that on themselves. For the most part tourists are not there to fight or cause trouble. Especially with the locals. These are random attacks and robberies and are almost always unprovoked. It's a little different than a bar fight at the Back Alley.

^There is actually another rumour going around saying that this was a mafia style execution.

What I dont get is why the Mexican Government try to hide or make up events. I think people would feel more comfortable knowing that the guilty would be punished instead of making every death look like an accident.

RedHot25 · 05-09-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle Eye

^There is actually another rumour going around saying that this was a mafia style execution.

What rumour is this? Just curious as I have actually not heard anything about it...

Log · 05-09-2007, 10:07 AM

I just heard on the radio that the victim is on life support and is not expected to make a recovery. I guess the family is going to have him flown back here so his organs can be donated. Sad news to hear.

Deelow · 05-09-2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle Eye

^There is actually another rumour going around saying that this was a mafia style execution.

What I dont get is why the Mexican Government try to hide or make up events. I think people would feel more comfortable knowing that the guilty would be punished instead of making every death look like an accident.

Don't know if I would believe that. Mafia style executions don't usually leave people clinging to life...but anything's possible. Here's the latest.

CANCUN, Mexico. x--20s. The family of an Alberta man in a Mexican hospital says he is clinically brain dead and they want to bring him back to Canada as soon as possible. Mexican authorities say Jeff Toews fell from the second floor of his hotel Sunday, but his brother Murray suspects he was beaten and he's critical of how Mexican authorities are handling the investigation.

J pold · 05-09-2007, 10:18 AM

I have been to Mexico many times, I have family there and have stayed in the heart of Mexico city…the last time I was there I was about 16 and I recall all the scare implement into me by my parents and others, but when I got there my sister and I where treated with nothing but courtesy and friendliness I was able to walk around the streets and never had any sort of confrontations and my cousins who live there have never been attacked, or robbed or kidnapped…every place has bad people and Mexico has there fair share but generally from my experience they are great people

I-Hate-Hulse · 05-09-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle Eye

What I dont get is why the Mexican Government try to hide or make up events. I think people would feel more comfortable knowing that the guilty would be punished instead of making every death look like an accident.

Isn't it obvious? They don't want anything to jeopardize the tourist trade. That said, if more and more events like this happen, people will think twice before vacationing in Mexico and leave a lot of people and resorts without business...

Deelow · 05-09-2007, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Isn't it obvious? They don't want anything to jeopardize the tourist trade. That said, if more and more events like this happen, people will think twice before vacationing in Mexico and leave a lot of people and resorts without business...

A release form Ottawa simply stating "we don't adivse Canadians to travel to Mexico until we are satisfied with the Mexican Government's ability to protect tourists and investigate harm inflicted upon them"
That should solve the problem quickly.

RedHot25 · 05-09-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Isn't it obvious? They don't want anything to jeopardize the tourist trade. That said, if more and more events like this happen, people will think twice before vacationing in Mexico and leave a lot of people and resorts without business...

Which, I think, is what that poster is getting at (although I don't want to speak specifically for him/her). Hence...wouldn't it, in an overall sense, be better to acknowledge what has happened/work towards resolving the cases? I.e. I think Eagle is getting at by doing that, it would in fact be potentially better for the tourist industry etc. By covering things up, in their attempt to "protect the industry", they are just really making things worse.

Eagle Eye · 05-09-2007, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deelow

Don't know if I would believe that. Mafia style executions don't usually leave people clinging to life...but anything's possible. Here's the latest.

CANCUN, Mexico. x--20s. The family of an Alberta man in a Mexican hospital says he is clinically brain dead and they want to bring him back to Canada as soon as possible. Mexican authorities say Jeff Toews fell from the second floor of his hotel Sunday, but his brother Murray suspects he was beaten and he's critical of how Mexican authorities are handling the investigation.

Sorry I was talking about the couple that had thier throats slashed last year