With Friends Like These…
Review by Kim Cantrell
Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey, tells the story of one of Canada’s most infamous slayings known as the “Schoolgirl Murder” or also frequently referred to as “The Shoreline Six.”
Reena Virk, a 14-year-old girl of Middle Eastern decent, was a young woman searching for her place in this world; unfortunately, the “place” she freqeuntly chose was with a group of thugish girls who enjoyed fighting, stealing, and bullying others. Unfortunately, as is so common in such groups, her “friends” turned on her on the theory that she “stole” another’s boyfriend. And a plan was hatched to teacher her a lesson.
While two members of the group, Josephine and Dusty, lured Reena to a common teenage hangout. Once there, Josephine and Dusty, along with several others, including Kelly Ellard and Warren Glowatski, began to beat Reena. At one point, she lost consciousness. And while most of the group walked away, that wasn’t enough for Kelly Ellard: a rich, spoiled brat whose pure evilness is what incited her to hang with this worthless crowd.
Ellard, after recruiting a self-proclaimed member of the Crips gang Warren Glowatski, along with his help dragged Reena to waters edge where she was subsequently drowned. The trials and sentences in this case are absolutely fascinating and will serve as a reminder to the American citizen why we live in such a great land. Readers will undoubtedly find themselves appalled at the Canadian justice system.
However, one must be dedicated to true crime in order to make it through this book. While Godfrey seems to have researched this case a great deal, the writing style leaves much to be desired; with excessive skipping around, too many author opinions, and an abundance of useless information.
Not to mention that readers are subjected to the glorification of Syreeta Hartley, the girlfriend of Warren Glowatski at the time of the murder. Hartley is portrayed as somewhat of a victim herself with her connection by proxy; however, Hartley lost all credibility with me when she essentially attempted to destroy the Crown’s case against Glowatski by claiming she didn’t recall many details while testifying despite a detailed statement given to police following the crime. I had hesitated for quite some time before reading Under the Bridge as my instinct told me this wouldn’t be a very good book; unfortunately, my intuition was correct. However, if you’re a fan of true crime and find yourself, as I often do, with limited reading material, give it a shot. There’s a good story in there, you just have to find it.
Ready to read it? Here’s where to get it:
Updates from this book:
Warren Glowatski was released on parole in June 2010.
Kelly Ellard‘s case has occupied the Canadian Court system for over a decade now. Finally, in 2009, putting an end to the legal wranglings, the Supreme Court Court reinstated the second degree murder conviction. Twelve years after the murder, Kelly finally began serving her life in prison sentence. She will be eligible for parole in 7 years.
