Canadian True Crime - Susan Klassen

Episode Date: July 1, 2024

36-year old Susan Klassen had only lived in Whitehorse for a few years, but she made a considerable impact on the local community as a renowned modern storyteller with the Yukon International Storytelling Festival. Susan’s death—and the public outrage that followed—was named the #1 story in the Yukon for 1997.“Throughout her life, she deeply touched the lives and hearts of many. Along with her love of nature, one of Susan’s greatest joys was to share her talent of storytelling.” - ObituaryIf you or a loved one is experiencing family violence, help and resources are available. Support Services - Canadian Women's FoundationFind family violence resources and services in your area - Canada.ca----------------------------------------------------This episode is about an important case that became a watershed moment for the local community in Whitehorse, Yukon, and across the country. We’ve pieced it together from court documents and the news archives, most notably the reporting of Caroline Murray and Yvette Brend for the Whitehorse Daily Star. Our sincere condolences to Susan Klassen’s loved ones and anyone else affected by this crime. ----------------------------------------------------Canadian True Crime has donated to Kaushee’s Place; a transition home for women and gender diverse people experiencing violence in the Yukon.True Crime and Paranormal Podcast FestivalJuly 12-14, Denver, Colorado. Use code KRISTI for 15% discount off ticket prices.www.truecrimepodcastfestival.comFull list of resources, information sources and credits:See the page for this episode at www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From your ghost lent the most the Academy Award nominated director of Poor Things and the favorite comes kinds of kindness a darkly hilarious and unpredictable film that critics are calling mind bending Lee brilliant featuring an all star cast led by Emma Stone Jesse Plemons and Willem Dafoe kinds of kindness is a wild ride that will leave audiences discussing the experience long after it's over. Don't miss kinds of kindness now playing in select theaters. Acast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend. Hello in Tansi. My name is Joel DeMontgren. I'm an actor and I'm indigenous and I've created a podcast called Actors and Ancestors. It's a podcast all about indigenous actors here on Turtle Island and our experience in the industry. So if that sounds like something that your ear balls would be happy to listen to,

then check out actorsandancestors.com and go to any of your favorite podcast players and we're there. You're there. I go say. Acast helps creators launch, grow, and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com. Ever feel like there's just not enough time in the day between household chores, running errands, commuting to work, taking the kids to school. Finding time to enjoy a good book seems impossible, right? That's where Audible.ca comes in and it's a total game changer. Audible is the home of storytelling where you'll

find all your favourite Canadian voices and some additional motivation and inspiration for your daily life too. I just pop in my earbuds and I'm instantly whisked away to a magical story land where I turn task time into me time. While out walking my dogs, I've just finished listening to Jessica Simpson's memoir, Open Book, a New York Times bestseller. It was an incredibly easy and entertaining read and I have to say there's something really special about listening to an author narrate their own book. Go Jessica! And I've already got Love Pamela by Pamela Anderson and the meaning of Mariah Carey waiting for me to start. There's more to imagine when you listen to audible.ca from best-selling audiobooks to

binge-worthy podcasts and exclusive originals all at your fingertips. There really is something for everyone. Make audible.ca your go to place for premium audio storytelling. Your first audio book is absolutely free when you sign up for a free 30 day trial. Visit audible.ca today. Canadian True Crime is a completely independent production funded mainly through advertising. You can listen to Canadian True Crime ad-free and early on Amazon Music included with Prime,

Apple Podcasts, Patreon and Supercast. The podcast often has disturbing content and coarse language. It's not for everyone. Please take care when listening. Hi everyone, I hope you're well. This is our final episode for the season. We'll be back with the next regular episode in early September, but stay tuned over the next few months of summer for the usual case updates episodes. Today's case led to an important watershed moment that was named the number one news story in the Yukon for 1997 and sent ripple effects across the country. We've pieced this episode together from publicly available court documents and a deep dive into the news archives, particularly the reporting of Caroline Murray and Yvette Brand for the White Horse Daily Star.

Our sincere condolences to Susan Claassen's loved ones and anyone else affected by this crime. Please respect their privacy and that of others involved in this case. Just quickly before we start, the True Crime and Paranormal Podcast Festival is coming up very soon, the weekend of July 12th to 14th in Denver, Colorado. I attended the first one in Chicago in 2019 and had a blast. So I'm super excited to return and see some of my favorite podcasters and listeners again and meet some new ones.

I'll be at the podcast gallery with Charlie from Crime Lines. And there's also a bunch of live shows, discussions and panels on topics like forensic science, ethics and true crime and more that I'm really looking forward to catching. If you haven't purchased tickets yet, visit truecrimepodcastfestival.com or see the show notes for all the details and use promo code Christy for 15% off. And with that, it's on with the show. One cold Thursday morning in November, a five-ton propane truck was travelling south down the North Klondike Highway in the Yukon. The driver's name was Luke, and he was about 50 kilometers away from

Whitehorse where he was scheduled to make a delivery. At about 6.35 a.m. Luke noticed a blue Toyota pickup truck on the other side of the road that seemed to be headed in his direction. As it neared he got a glimpse of the other driver's face and saw a look of agitation or shock. Suddenly, the pickup truck swerved into the lane Luke was in and he didn't have time to react. The two vehicles collided at a high speed and ended up in the same ditch over the side

of the highway. Fortunately for Luke, it wasn't a head-on collision. The pickup truck struck the propane truck's tire, causing extensive damage to the passenger side and rupturing the fuel tank. The leak was contained and the large truck did not ignite. The blue pickup truck also had extensive damage to the front and driver's side. As the White Horse Daily Star would describe it, the truck's front left tyre was missing and the entire front driver's side of the vehicle appeared to have vanished. The interior of the cab was relatively intact, although the dashboard was displaced. Other motorists who had stopped to attend to the scene described seeing the driver get out of the crumpled mess

that his pickup truck had become, limping with some blood above his eyebrow. He paced back and forth as though in a daze, and at least two witnesses observed him asking himself, why am I alive right now? As first responders arrived, one witness would report walking around the scene of the crash surrounded by pieces of glass,

rubber tires and various parts of the vehicle. It was a straight unobstructed stretch of road and there was no smell of burning rubber or any kind of skid or brake marks. Both drivers were taken via ambulance to the Whitehorse General Hospital. Luke, the driver of the propane truck, was treated for various neck and back injuries. He was lucky to be alive. So too was the driver of the blue pickup truck that rammed into him. The man in his 40s only suffered two dislocated

toes and a minor laceration over his left eyebrow. He was given a moderate dose of intravenous pain relief. While he escaped with only minor physical injuries, the doctor was far more concerned about his mental state. Hospital staff reported that he was in an intense state of distress, so much so that he could barely talk. Eventually someone made out the words, and I think I may have hurt her. After learning that the patient was 44-year-old Ralph Claussen, a married man who lived just north of Whitehorse, the doctor made the decision to contact the RCMP and advise them to go out and check out the Claussen's home. When a phone call to the

home went to the answering machine, a constable drove out and conducted a cursory search of the property and inside the home. He noticed nothing amiss, but there was no sign of Ralph Claussen's wife, Susan. An RCMP corporal attended the hospital to speak with Ralph Claussen in person in relation to what he was saying about hurting his wife. Ralph told the corporal he'd last seen Susan at about 6am that morning in their bedroom. He said they'd been having a discussion, an argument, an in-your-face kind of thing. He said he left her in the bed and went for a drive, looking for another truck to drive into. Quote,

At around the same time, a report came in that Susan hadn't shown up for work that day. The situation suddenly became very serious. Where was Susan Claussen? RCMP officers drove back to the home with one of Susan's coworkers. It was now just after lunchtime, six hours after the mysterious highway collision,

and as they entered the home, they heard stereo music softly playing inside. Again, everything appeared to be in place, but this time they knew they had to look closer at the master bedroom. The bedroom too was tidy and everything seemed to be in place, but a constable spotted what looked like a foot sticking out from the side of the bed. They pulled back the comforter and there lay the body of a woman who'd been dead for at least several hours. It was Susan Claussen. She was 36 years old.

Susan Catherine Burke was born in Edmonton, Alberta, the second of six daughters to Brendan and Charlotte Burke, who raised their family in the Catholic faith. Susan was a bright and motivated person who won the top award for excellence at high school and graduated from university in 1981 with distinction as an occupational therapist. The following year, 22-year-old Susan married Ralph Klassen, who was about eight years older than her. He'd grown up in Manitoba in a similarly religious family. While Susan was building a successful career as an occupational therapist, Ralph bounced from job to job in a number of varying industries and the couple moved frequently during their first nine years of marriage across Alberta and then to British Columbia. In 1991, Susan accepted a job offer as an occupational therapist for the Yukon

government in the city of Whitehorse. It was time for the couple to move again. Once in Whitehorse, Susan was keen to start integrating into the local community to make friends, but also to find ways where she could make a difference. She found a local church and started volunteering for a learning disabilities non-profit. But it was the storytelling community that became the space Susan Claussen was most recognised. She'd always been into the art of storytelling and joined the Yukon International Storytelling Festival, where she'd go on to make many friends as a volunteer, organiser, performer and member of the festival's board and programming committee. Described as a

marvellous storyteller, exquisite performer and a person who was soft-spoken, gentle, and peaceful, Susan Clarsen became well-known for her traditional Irish stories and her ability to draw on her own personal experiences in a way that gripped audiences. She was nominated for multiple awards and the community became somewhat of a surrogate family for her.

Everything was going well in almost every aspect of her life. But Susan and her husband Ralph were having some struggles. Susan loved children and dearly wanted to start a family, but grew increasingly disappointed when she couldn't get pregnant. As the months turned into years, cracks started to show in their marriage, and they separated briefly a number of times, but always reconciled.

In early October of 1995, after 13 years of marriage, Susan and Ralph Klassen finally decided on a proper six month trial separation. But they never made it that long. A month later, Ralph crashed into that propane truck and Susan's body was found on their marital bed. The following day, it was announced that Ralph Klassen had been arrested and charged with the second degree murder of his wife, Susan. The only information the RCMP would release at that time was that her body had been sent for autopsy and they were now conducting a thorough search of the couple's home.

Susan's close family back in Alberta posted a notice in the Edmonton Journal describing how they'll forever miss her kind and generous presence and warm and gentle smile. Quote, throughout her life she deeply touched the lives and hearts of many. Along with her love of nature, one of Susan's greatest joys was to share her talent of storytelling. In Whitehorse, Susan's colleagues at work, fellow volunteers and the local and international storytelling community were crushed by the news. No one could believe what had happened, why it happened and what the car crash had to do with it, if anything. One friend told the newspaper that Susan was a very strong person and no one ever knew of any kind of problem at home. But the friend also pointed out that Susan

had a private and reserved nature, which was part of her dignity. None of Susan's friends in Whitehorse said they were well acquainted with her husband Ralph. As well as a funeral, several other memorial services were held for Susan by the many people who wanted to honor her, including a candlelight ceremony organized by her friends in the storytelling community and a memorial concert held in her honor. Proceeds from the concert were donated to Kyoshi's Place, a women's transitional home and shelter in Whitehorse.

Although no one knew the circumstances of Susan's death, a strong theme of that concert was that it was important for people to speak out about the issue of violence against women. The scheduled trial for Ralph Klassen was delayed several times, but it finally began was in January 1997. The last time she was seen in the hospital was in January 1997.

The last time she was seen in the hospital was in January 1997. The last time she was seen in the hospital was in January 1997. The last time she was seen in the hospital was in January 1997. The packed courtroom included Susan's five sisters who had traveled from Alberta along with their father, Brendan Burke, a retired RCMP officer. Ralph Klassen, by this point 45 years old, was led into the courtroom with a distressed expression on his face. The proceedings began with Ralph asking the Crown for a plea deal. He said he was prepared to plead guilty to manslaughter instead of the second-degree murder he'd been charged with. Second-degree murder means there was deliberate intent to kill but unlike

first-degree murder it wasn't planned or premeditated. The much lesser charge of The Crown's case was that Ralph did intend to kill Susan that day, so his request to plead guilty to manslaughter was rejected. Ralph Klassen pleaded not guilty to second degree murder. The Crown's case was that the accused was not guilty of manslaughter. The Crown's case was that the accused was not guilty of manslaughter. The Crown's case was that the accused to plead guilty to manslaughter was rejected. Ralph Klassen pleaded not guilty to second degree murder and the trial began. Several RCMP constables testified about what they found when they returned to Ralph and Susan Klassen's home for a second time that morning to look for Susan. One constable described the crime scene as serene, noting that everything was in its

place with no signs of a physical struggle whatsoever, which was unusual. He said that typically there would be evidence of a series of other incidents leading up to such violence, but there was nothing, just what they found on the bed. They saw three pillows, but only two of them had pillowcases. It was only when they pulled back the comforter on the bed that covered Susan's body that they realised where the third one was. There was a floral pillowcase tied extremely tightly

around her neck and secured with a tight knot. The autopsy concluded that ligature strangulation was the cause of Susan Claussen's death. Her family members were seen crying as they heard the pillowcase was tied so tight that it likely cut off Susan's death and said that she was a victim of a suicide. The court also said that the victim was a victim of a suicide. The court also said that the victim was a victim of a suicide. The court also said that the victim was a victim of a suicide.

The court also said that the victim was a victim of a suicide. The court also said that the victim was a victim of a suicide. He would be seen crying openly throughout the proceedings. The court heard about items found by the RCMP during a search of the Klassen home, including several letters exchanged by Susan and Ralph about the state of their marriage and their trial separation. And on the kitchen table was a very brief note written by Ralph, addressed to a man named Gord Holland, and their trial separation. And on the kitchen table was a very brief note written by Ralph, addressed to a man named Gord Holland.

The note simply read, I went into a jealous fit of rage. The image of you and my wife together made me insane. It suggested there was a whole other side to the story. the Academy Award nominated director of Poor Things and the Favorite comes Kinds of Kindness a Darkly hilarious and unpredictable film that critics are calling mind-bendingly brilliant Featuring an all-star cast led by Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons and Willem Dafoe Kinds of Kindness is a wild ride that will leave audiences discussing the experience long after it's over Don't miss Kinds of kindness. Now playing in select theaters.

A-Cast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend. Hello in Tansi. My name is Joel De Moncran. I'm an actor and I'm indigenous and I've created a podcast called Actors and Ancestors. It's a podcast all about indigenous actors here on Turtle Island and our experience in the industry.

So if that sounds like something that your ear balls would be happy to listen to, then check out actorsandancestors.com and go to any of your favorite podcast players and we're there. Ego se! A cast helps creators launch, grow, and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com. Hey there, I'm Kathleen Goltar and I have a confession to make.

I am a true crime fanatic. I devour books and films and most of all, true crime podcasts. But sometimes I just wanna know more. I wanna go deeper. And that's where my podcast, Crime Story comes in. Every week I go behind the scenes with the creators of the best in true crime. I chat with the host of Scamanda,

Teacher's Pet, Bone Valley, the list goes on. For the insider scoop, find Crime Story in your podcast app. At Ralph Klassen's trial, the video of his interview with RCMP investigators after his arrest was shown to the jury. He said that he and Susan had been discussing the issues in their marriage that night and quote, I think I have a recollection of being on top of her and she kept saying things, negative things and I don't know. I think my hands went on her throat. I don't know

what happened from there. I don't know." Ralph described a litany of things running through his mind and said he could recall an object resembling a cover or pillow around Susan's neck. When it was confirmed to him that she was dead, he exclaimed, Susan is dead. Susan is dead. Oh my God, you've got to be kidding. Susan Claussen is dead. In reference to Susan's high profile in the city of Whitehorse, he asked the constable,

Do you realize the number of people who were going to be hurt by this? Does this go to the newspapers and stuff? It certainly would be. But for now, Ralph was asked about the timeline of everything that happened that night. He said he remembered everything going limp, but didn't know how much time had passed. Quote, I did not mean to hurt her. I did not mean to take her life. Something happened. Something shorted out. I believe it was me that did it." He told investigators that he planned to kill himself afterwards

by driving his pickup truck into a moving ore truck on the North Klondike Highway. Ralph then broke into uncontrollable sobs and began praising his wife for her beauty and ability to tell stories. But then he started criticizing her for what he described as badgering him. He complained that he'd endured a marriage of torture and alleged that she had carried on with another man behind his back. He sobbed in the video saying he was lonely and quote, it's so cruel so cruel in

Court Ralph Klassen also sobbed while the video was playing with his head hung low and his shoulders slumped He told the investigators that his wife's murder wasn't premeditated that he hadn't been thinking about it for hours in advance wasn't premeditated, that he hadn't been thinking about it for hours in advance. Quote, I'm not telling you this to get out of the hole. It just happened. I just snapped. Man, oh man, I should never have let it push me so far. Ralph Klassen was called to the witness box to testify in his own defense. The 45-year-old was one of seven children born in Manitoba to parents Jake and Nettie Klassen. He described a religious upbringing with a family belonging first to the Mennonite Church and later to a Christian church. Ralph told the jury he had a poor relationship with his own father. And at 17 years old, he dropped out of school and left home.

He said he had been married briefly in 1976, more than five years before he married Susan. But it ended within three months. He said they were mutually incompatible. While there was certainly more information about this short-lived marriage that would later come out, Ralph Klassen didn't provide any further details about it during his testimony, nor was he asked to. He said that by 1980 he had met Susan and within two years the couple were married, with the ceremony taking place in the backyard of Susan's father's home in Edmonton.

They moved quite a lot during their marriage, at first in Alberta, including moves to Stettler and High River. While Susan continued building her successful career as a trained and qualified occupational therapist, Ralph got a degree in theology, the study of religion and God. They then moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where Ralph began studying for his master's degree. When he'd finished, they moved within the province to Mackenzie, where he'd accepted a job as a local Baptist Church pastor. Ralph testified that he and Susan had been trying to have a baby, but she wasn't able to get pregnant. Eventually, the couple decided to seek the advice of professionals and learned that Ralph had a low sperm count. It was the late 80s and early 90s, so fertility treatments were not where they are today. Ralph testified that they did look into possible options like artificial insemination

and tried to adopt a child, but said they weren't successful due to reasons beyond their control. Ralph said he was frustrated and disappointed that he wasn't able to father children, and the issue became a source of extreme friction between the two of them from time to time. He claimed his sex life with Susan deteriorated, and she referred to his problem as shooting blanks. Ralph's job as a church pastor in Mackenzie, British Columbia, was short lived for reasons he didn't disclose. And he was soon back to bouncing around from job to job. Over the years, he said he'd worked in professional truck driving, farming, selling cars and photography.

By 1991, Susan and Ralph had been married for almost 10 years and were preparing to move again. But this time, it was for Susan's career as a respected occupational therapist. She'd been offered a job in the city of Whitehorse in the Yukon. Susan was ready to set down roots, so they purchased a block of land about 30 minutes drive north of Whitehorse

in an area called Lake Labarge, where Ralph said he took the lead building their new single-story bungalow style home. It had a sauna and a photography studio for him. Ralph said Susan had a gift with words and writing, and they earned extra income by having her written works published, as well as his photos. On cross-examination,

he acknowledged that she had always been caring and supportive of him. He testified that he really hoped this fresh start would bring them closer together, but it only put more distance between them. He said he ended up feeling lost, sort of disorientated, small. About two years into their move, Susan was promoted to a therapy coordinator position with the Yukon government. She loved it in Whitehorse and was thriving there both professionally and with her involvement in the local community and the Yukon International Storytelling Festival. But Ralph testified that the issues that caused friction in their marriage remained. As well as and the American-American Association of American-American and American-American

and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American

and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American

and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American and American-American meant through church. The man's name was Gord Holland and Ralph said he noticed a lot of eye contact and smiling between Gord and Susan. During 1994 and 95, Ralph and Susan separated about a dozen different times, but he testified that they always reconciled within a few days or weeks at most. That said, he agreed with the Crown's suggestion that by this point, his marriage was on a steep decline. Things came to a head in 1995 in early October when Susan suggested a proper six-month trial separation. Ralph testified that he wasn't in favor of the idea but resigned himself to the fact that this was what Susan wanted. He believed that if he just

gave her some space she would ask him to return in no time. Susan wanted to stay in Whitehorse, so Ralph decided to move back to Alberta, although he said it was only temporarily. The court heard other testimony that suggested Ralph Klassen had been pushing for the couple to move away from Whitehorse in the months before Susan asked for a trial separation.

A man named Dale identified himself as a friend of Ralph and Susan's from when they lived in High River, Alberta earlier in their marriage. Dale and his wife knew the couple through church and stayed in touch after they moved away to British Columbia and then to the Yukon. The jury heard that Ralph and Susan visited Dale and his wife in High River in September of 1995, less than two months before she was killed. Dale testified that Ralph told him he and Susan were in the process of buying a house there. A few weeks after that, in early October, was when Susan asked Ralph for the trial separation. And Dale testified that around that same time, Ralph returned to High River, this time by himself.

He told Dale that he and Susan had been having marital issues, This was the only testimony at trial that mentioned anything about a house purchase or a possible move away from Whitehorse. But later news reports would suggest that Susan's family may have known something about this as well. Susan's family was also a member of the Whitehorse family. Susan's family was also a member of the Whitehorse, but later news reports would suggest that Susan's family may have known something about this as well. Another family friend of Ralph and Susan's from Whitehorse named Philip testified that he was aware of their fertility problems and described it as a contentious issue in their marriage.

Ralph told him the six month trial separation had been Susan's idea, but he chose to support it because he didn't want to become enemies with his wife. Philip testified that Ralph told him he was willing to leave the Yukon and stay in Alberta for a while to give Susan a chance to sort things out, and then he hoped they would reconcile for good. The court also heard testimony from a man named William who said Ralph was an old friend of his

and stayed at his place when he was in Alberta. William, who was also an RCMP officer of more than 20 years, observed that Ralph was not doing well physically or emotionally at the time. He'd been having problems sleeping and eating and appeared to be emotionally depressed about the state of his marriage, gripped with indecision and lost in life. The jury heard that Ralph had been considering a trip

to South America to visit a family member. William said he advised him to go, thinking it would be a good idea. But that all changed just a few weeks into the trial separation. Ralph Klassen testified that while he was staying in Alberta, a relative announced she was pregnant and was thinking of giving the baby up for adoption. This sparked an idea in his mind. He phoned Susan from Alberta to share the good news

and to discuss returning to Whitehorse for a visit to Touch Base. Quote, I felt I had something to offer her, the possibility of a family. He testified that his goal was for them to reconcile and he perceived Susan's reaction on the phone as receptive to that. He told the jury quote, my hope was that things would be much different than they turned out. On cross-examination, Ralph Klassen acknowledged

that part of his plan to return to Whitehorse was linked to his suspicions that Susan was involved with another man. That man was Gord Holland, described as a 32-year-old unmarried carpenter that befriended the Claessons through church in Whitehorse. Gord testified that he was shocked when he heard that he had been named by Ralph Claesson in relation to Susan's death. He confirmed that he and Susan were friends, and in the three or so weeks since Ralph had left, they'd met up about half a dozen times to go for a walk,

catch up over a cup of tea, or to go to the cinema. Although Gord didn't disclose the nature of his own feelings and intentions, he stated that he and Susan were never more than friends, and stayed firm on that when cross-examined by Ralph Claassen's defense lawyer. When Ralph was asked about this on cross-examination, he acknowledged that Susan and Gord could very well have just been friends, and admitted he never had any actual evidence of an affair, but quote, what concerned me was the lack of that kind of dialogue between she and I, I felt like I was being replaced. Ralph continued with his testimony about what happened after the phone call with Susan. He left Alberta to return to Whitehorse, arriving late in the afternoon on Wednesday, November the 1st of 1995.

on Wednesday, November the 1st of 1995. Before driving out to the house, he decided to run some errands, which included purchasing a bottle of cologne at a drug store so that he would smell nice for her. When he arrived at their home, Susan wasn't there, but she left a note saying she'd be back at 10pm. She'd gone to a movie with her friend, Gord Holland. The court heard about the other letters that the police found during their search of the

home. One was a letter that Ralph wrote to Susan, where he said he longed for her to give herself to him wholly and irrevocably. There was also a seven-page letter from Susan to Ralph, dated October 30th, the same date as the long-distance phone call, and two days before he arrived back in Whitehorse. Ralph said he read the letter that evening

while he waited for Susan to return home. Her letter to Ralph was a reflection on their 13 years of marriage, their separation, and her own life, according to reporting by the Whitehorse Daily Star. She wrote that her greatest regret was that because they had never lived in one community long enough, she missed out on building solid friendships, real friendships. Her own mother had passed away

five years earlier and she wrote that she longed to have friendships with older women that she could have confided in about the issues in her marriage. Instead, she kept everything inside her and pretended the marriage was perfect, which she wrote made her feel sick. Quote, the pathetic truth is that all couples experience similar marital problems. I thought I was protecting us under the guise of perfection. Susan also wrote of her frustrations at not having a child,

saying their fertility journey had caused many painful memories over the years that caused her to cry often. Ralph Klassen testified about one specific part of Susan's letter that particularly upset him. He said that she wrote she'd been having, quote, fantasies about a nameless, faceless man who could meet her needs.

His testimony suggested that Susan was having erotic sexual fantasies involving some highly fertile man. The problem was that wasn't what she wrote. Susan's actual words were that she'd been having daydreams about a nameless, faceless person who would take her pain away. And further, she wrote that those daydreams had been caused by Ralph's anger and physical aggression. His testimony indicated he simply projected his own insecurities into what Susan wrote and made no effort to understand her perspective. Perhaps that's why Susan also wrote that she was starting to feel restored physically since their trial separation, but she needed prayer for the

discipline needed to maintain healthy choices. It appeared that Susan Claassen was trying to stop herself from settling back into a situation that she knew was not good for her. The only version of what happened that night when Susan got home from the movies was obviously from the man charged with murdering her. Ralph Klassen testified that they had a brief conversation but because they were both tired they decided to go to bed. At first he said Susan wanted him to sleep on the guest bed but seeing that there were items stacked on top of it she agreed to let him return to their bed. and the possibility of adopting his pregnant relative's child. Susan said she would have to think about it. They went back to bed and read the news.

Susan's mother, who was a nurse, said she was very worried about her child. She said she was worried about her child, and that she would have to think about it. Susan's mother, who was a nurse, said she was worried about her child, and said she would have to think about it. They went back to bed and Ralph told the jury that he remembered reaching out to touch Susan, but she spurned his advance.

Quote, I remember her saying to me, Ralph, what's the point in making love? Your body is just dead sperm anyway, besides you already know about God." End quote. At that moment, Ralph said he felt as though hot metal was being jammed into the back of his head.

The next, he recalled having his thumbs on Susan's throat. Quote, everything went black, just inky dark, dense black. He said he could barely remember using a pillowcase, describing his memory of the incident as vague, very vague. He remembered covering Susan with a comforter and then writing that note to Gord Holland that simply stated, I went into a jealous fit of rage. The image of you and my wife together made me insane. Ralph had claimed that Susan's last words referred to Gord and because of that, he felt he owed the man an explanation. Although he also claimed that at that moment,

he didn't know that Susan was dead. On cross-examination, the Crown suggested that Ralph did know she was dead, which is why he wrote the note of explanation to Gord and not to Susan. Quote, there's no use writing a note to a dead person, is there? Ralph told the court he thought he may have done something to harm his wife,

but insisted he didn't know Susan was dead when he left the house. Later, he would acknowledge he was in denial for quite some time that she had died, and had even told a doctor, quote, I had a very hard time admitting what I think I knew. Ralph testified that he got in his truck and left the home with the intention of killing himself because he feared he had hurt Susan in a very critical way.

He deliberately turned his pickup truck into the path of an oncoming truck and claimed he didn't know that it was a propane truck. On cross-examination, he acknowledged that he didn't think about the safety of any other driver or any others who may have been impacted when he intentionally caused that crash. The court heard testimony from the doctor at the hospital who first contacted the RCMP, and then from Ralph's friend Philip from Whitehorse who visited him at the police station after his arrest.

Philip found him to be distraught and extremely remorseful, and all he would say about what happened to Susan was that he lost it and blanked out. Philip testified that he wasn't aware of any physical violence in the marriage before that, but he did know about the long-distance phone call that led Ralph to believe Susan wanted him to return to Whitehorse. He said Ralph had been hopeful that their relationship was about to turn a corner. But at the police station after his arrest, Ralph said that once he returned to Whitehorse,

he realized nothing had changed and wished he hadn't come back. A forensic psychiatrist was called to testify for the defense about Ralph Klassen's state of mind. Dr. Shabram Larasbee told the court that after a four hour interview and in consideration of the evidence presented at trial, he concluded that Ralph Klassen did not suffer from a major mental disorder,

nor was he lying about how he had been provoked and the effect it had on him. Quote, because nobody was there at the scene all we have is Mr. Claussen's account of what happened. My view is that he was not trying to con me. The psychiatrist concluded that quote, the threat of his wife leaving him for another man aroused a very powerful source of fear in him. In addition to this, Dr. Larasbee found that Ralph felt like a failure because he had no long-term career and he was now on his second failed marriage. He was found to be quote, strongly attached to his wife, dependent and needy of her. That night, when he returned to Whitehorse

and realized that reconciliation was unlikely, Ralph felt increasingly low. The psychiatrist testified that things came to a head when Ralph perceived that Susan had rejected his sexual advance, and it had a quote, catastrophic effect on him. In response to Ralph's insistence that Susan had rejected his sexual advance, and it had a quote, catastrophic effect on him. In response to Ralph's insistence that he couldn't remember most of the violence

he'd perpetrated against his wife, Dr. Larasby said it's a common reaction for people who have been emotionally provoked, and they often find themselves not in their normal mental state, not in control. And in his opinion, this is what happened with Ralph. Quote, if we accept Mr. Claussen's account, as I do, then I think it is reasonable to say he was extremely emotional when his wife was strangled.

End quote. The way this testimony was worded seems to indicate that Ralph Klassen was watching as somebody else strangled his wife. Dr. LaRasbie concluded that Ralph displayed unquestionable remorse and implied that his attempt to kill himself shortly after Susan's death, amounted to a demonstration of that remorse. He described Ralph Klassen as someone with strong values and Christian beliefs, so quote, it's not at all unexpected that he finds what he did totally repugnant. As a quick sidebar, it should be noted that Dr. Shabram Larasbi has testified for the defence in at least two other criminal trials that this podcast has covered, and both were

a bit controversial. Shelby Tracy-Tom was a sex worker from Vancouver. Her client, Jatin Patel, flew into a rage upon discovering she was transgender and was originally charged with second degree murder, but the Crown allowed a guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter. originated in the British courts several hundred years ago. And while available to everyone, it was created in response to enraged husbands who murdered their wives after finding them in bed with other men. Part of the Canadian Criminal Code since the late 1800s, the provocation defence held that if a person accused

of murder can demonstrate they were provoked by an insult or act, then they are not guilty of murder and should only be sentenced for manslaughter. At Jatin Patel's sentencing, Dr. Shabram Larasbi was called to testify in support of the defense's request for a shorter prison sentence. After interviewing the accused, the forensic psychiatrist concluded that upon discovering that Shelby Tracy Tom was transgender, Patel felt immense anger towards her as the source of the deception.

The law of provocation holds that in effect, she provoked Patel's violence against her that caused her death. In cases like this, the tactic was better known as gay panic defense. Dr. Larasby was also called to testify for the defense in the trial of Roger Warren, the perpetrator of the giant mine murders in Yellowknife. Warren confessed several times to police that he set up the bomb that killed nine underground miners

and provided details that only the killer would know. But at trial, Warren chose to plead not guilty, claiming his depression at the time made him falsely confess. Dr. Larasbee testified for the defense that he found Roger Warren was clinically depressed at the time he gave the allegedly false confessions and described Warren as a macho man on a downward spiral. When an investigator told him to just be a man and confess,

it hit the right note. The Crown described this conclusion as incomplete and one-sided and suggested to the forensic psychiatrist that quote, you don't have to rely on the word of a man who tells you he is a liar. Dr. LaRasbee responded with almost the exact same thing that he said about Ralph Klassen. He simply believed the accused was being honest with him during their interview. Eight years after Roger Warren was convicted, he decided to publicly confess again and admitted he lied about the previous confessions being false. They were in fact true all along, he said. In closing arguments, Ralph Klassen's defense lawyer echoed the comments made by Dr. Larasbee,

that when Susan commented about his inability to father children, he became emotional and snapped. The defense said, quote, he killed the most precious thing in his life. Ralph needed Susan. He very much needed Susan, and he very much loved Susan. The court heard that Ralph Klassen had no criminal record, had not been consuming drugs or alcohol in the time before he killed

Susan, and there was no evidence presented at trial of any prior violent behavior on his part. In addition, various witnesses had reported seeing him express remorse, including the police, the hospital staff, and his friends. The defense stated that while Ralph Klassen acknowledged he was responsible for Susan's death and was very clearly guilty of manslaughter, it was up to the jury to decide whether he is guilty of murder. The Crown prosecutor described Ralph Klassen

as an ordinary, unremarkable, and sane man who would have had enough time to snap out of his emotional state. Any slight attributed to Susan before her death was not sufficient to cause him to lose control in a catastrophic way. The Crown noted that Ralph had initiated the attack by strangling Susan with his hands, placed so tightly around her throat that he bruised his thumbs from straining. Once she was unconscious, he took the time to remove a pillowcase from a nearby pillow

and wrapped it around Susan's neck, tying a tight knot as a ligature to finish her off. Ralph Klasser knew exactly what he was doing, the Crown said. His sadness and display of remorse was described as being self-centered and self-serving. The jury was urged to find him guilty of second-degree murder. The judge instructed the jury that in cases where the conduct of the deceased person makes the accused feel concluded, Ralph Klassen did not have that intent, they could find him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. That was exactly the jury's verdict,

guilty of manslaughter. There was no obvious reaction to the verdict from Ralph himself. After all, he wanted to plead guilty to manslaughter. The trial had simply arrived at the same result. But everyone else was outraged. Susan Claussen's father and five sisters would say they were shocked by the verdict.

And the White Horse Daily Star reported a fierce response from those in the courtroom, from heated words yelled at Ralph Claussen Whitehorse Daily Star reported a fierce response from those in the courtroom, from heated words yelled at Ralph Klassen to the smashing of a glass door at the courthouse. When everyone returned for the sentencing hearing, a metal detector had been set up outside the courtroom entrance and there were six RCMP

officers present to keep things orderly. Victim impact statements had been submitted by Susan's father and sisters, other relatives and a friend, each conveying a sense of loss and a breach of trust. Susan's father, Brendan Burke, wrote of protecting his daughters while they were growing up, and on each of their wedding days he hoped their husbands would continue to do the same. Of Ralph Klassen, he said, quote, I trusted this man with my daughter. I feel as though a part of me is being ripped from my heart. The Crown asked for a sentence of 8 to 12 years in prison, describing the death of Susan Claussen as a one-sided attack with no signs of struggle that took place in the marital

bed, a place where one should feel the safest and most secure. The Defence asked that Ralph Klassen be sentenced to three to five years in prison, noting that he had accepted responsibility for his actions, did not apply to be released on bail, and had already spent nearly 15 months in pretrial custody. In delivering his sentence, Justice Ralph Hutchinson described Ralph and Susan Klassen as serious, principled and respected members of the community who handled their differences with restraint and

conducted their arguments in a civil way as evidenced by the numerous letters they had written. The judge said the case was tragic and stated that the negative comments Ralph alleged Susan had made before he strangled her were, quote, taken by him as a final rejection. They triggered the reaction that resulted in the death of his wife. Justice Hutchinson pointed to what he considered to be evidence that Ralph Klassen was genuinely remorseful.

His genuine attempt to die by suicide by driving into the path of another vehicle, his expressions of remorse to numerous people, and the fact that he had cried countless times both after Susan's death and during the trial. The judge continued to describe Ralph Klassen in almost glowing terms, noting that he was well-educated

and that he'd worked for a short time as a church pastor. The judge did not consider Klassen to be a danger to society or at a high risk to re-offend. Justice Hutchinson asked Ralph Klassen if he had anything to say before he was sentenced, and Ralph simply said no. This angered both Susan's loved ones and the general public. With that, Ralph Klassen was sentenced to five years in prison in addition to the 15 months he'd already served. He was also given a 10-year firearms prohibition.

The judge extended his deepest sympathy to Susan's loved ones and acknowledged that the sentence likely won't satisfy them. And it certainly didn't. Ralph was led out of the courtroom to a choir of people yelling about the injustice, that the community hates him and he's going to have to live with what he did for the rest of his life. Outside the courthouse, Susan's sister Brenda told the White Horse Daily Star that the entire court process amounted to a message that you can kill your wife and get away with murder. Susan's loved ones, friends and work colleagues alike described her as an extremely intelligent, graceful woman and a loving friend, co-worker and sister.

She was considered a mother hen by some, a person you could confide in and get comfort from. Susan was known to be a gentle and thoughtful person. a mother hen by some, a person you could confide in and get comfort from. Susan was known to be a gentle and thoughtful person who never said a bad word about anyone. They vocalized their anger at the disparaging remarks Ralph made about her on the stand, and said they believed much of what he said was a lie. And this, most notably, included the last thing he claimed Susan said to him, that very inflammatory statement that caused his so-called catastrophic reaction. Your body is just dead sperm anyway, besides you already know about gourd.

In reference to the fact that Ralph's claims in the witness box were largely accepted without challenge or hesitation at trial, Susan's sister Brenda pointed out, quote, how do they know? He's a killer, and he's not going to lie? She described it as a classic case of a woman who was terrified to leave her husband. Quote, he controlled her in every aspect.

She finally decided this was it, but he wasn't going to let her go. Another sister, Angela, said they all sensed Susan was going through something and there were very subtle pleas for help. Quote, she would go to us with little bits and pieces, then to friends and to her church, and we all failed her. Several of Susan's friends told the White Horse Daily Star what they knew of

the problems in the marriage. One friend said Susan stayed at her place during one of the couple's many temporary separations before going back to her husband. Quote, there's only so much I could do. I couldn't sit her in the chair and tie her in. Another friend said that although Susan was sad about their final six month trial separation, it was obvious that her greatest feeling was one of relief. Yet another close friend said she was aware that the Claussen's marriage was quote, an abusive relationship and she felt the outcome was a great injustice, adding that any history of violence needs to come out in trials like these.

Susan herself had written about Ralph's anger and physical aggression in that seven-page letter, but for some reason there was no evidence presented at trial that she was guilty of. Ralph had written about Ralph's anger and physical aggression in that seven-page letter, but for some reason, there was no evidence presented at trial about any abusive or controlling behavior or that Susan was terrified to leave him. And at sentencing, the judge himself stated, there was no prior violence in the marriage of some 12 years. But there was more information to come.

As it turned out, Ralph Klassen's first wife had been following the proceedings and was preparing to come forward. Here's a question for the marketers listening. Want to find that perfect customer beyond the world of scrolling, swiping, and searching? Here's a secret to make sparks fly. Smooth talking with podcast ads. With Acast, you can reach millions of listeners who'll be hanging on your every word.

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Make podcast ads with Acast. Head to go.acast.com slash closer to get started. Although Ralph Klassen was sentenced in January of 1997, he would be eligible to apply for day parole just over a year later in March of 1998. This sparked a wave of protest in Whitehorse and across the Yukon. More than 300 people gathered for a silent march in almost minus 40 degree temperatures to protest the verdict of manslaughter

and the sentence that Ralph Klassen received. Susan Klassen's sisters and best friends banded together to advocate for justice. They organized petitions, radio interviews, and a letter writing campaign with hundreds of letters written to Federal Justice Minister Alan Rock and to the editor of the White Horse Daily Star. They pointed out the strong theme of victim blaming in the trial and how the focus shifted

from Ralph Klassen's murderous act to what he claimed his wife Susan said and did to provoke him. They teamed up with victims' rights organizations to demand changes be made to the law and for men to take responsibility for their own violent behavior towards women. The public was outraged that Susan was effectively identified as the one responsible for her husband's violence against her. One letter to the editor read, "'Claassen didn't mean to kill his wife,' we are told.

She said something, he claims, which caused him to snap. And she's not here to tell us any different. No deadly harm intended, just a little frenzy of choking with the hands and then a pillow slip tied tightly and left in place. What manifest nonsense! To suggest a man can choke a woman so deliberately, first with hands and then with a ligature knotted tightly in place, without intending to kill her is absurd to the extreme. The process of choking takes time, has death as its only purpose, and needs intent to sustain it." Another person wrote to the editor

that they were not going to accept that a man's anger or jealousy about his partner in any way reduces his responsibility for a crime of violence against his partner. In response to a newspaper colonist who wrote that the whole thing sounded like mail bashing, there was a whole new wave of letters to the editor. One read, quote, I respect men who speak out against violence without taking women's need to voice their grief and anger so personally. No one is accusing all men of being violent. But the fact is, in cases such as Susan Claussen's, the victims are virtually always women." Others noted that studies show the most dangerous time for a woman experiencing intimate partner violence or abuse is when she attempts to leave the relationship. This is still accurate today, according to Statistics Canada and reports by the Canadian

Women's Foundation. In Canada, a woman is killed by her current male intimate partner on average about once a week. But a decision to leave that abusive relationship makes her six times more likely to be killed by him. This dramatic increase in the risk of femicide is because when the survivor decides to leave, the abusive partner perceives it as a threat to his power and control, and as he retaliates to regain it, the intensity of the abuse can escalate.

This higher risk of being killed remains for up to 18 months after the woman leaves the relationship. Statistics also show that while women can and do commit violence against their male partners, it happens far less often, leads to less injuries, and is less likely to be motivated by a desire to dominate and control. In addition, men are more likely to initiate violence, while women are more likely to use violence in self-defense. In Susan Claassen's case, the violence against her was so fast and incapacitating that she didn't even get a chance to defend herself. The protest efforts resulted in so much media attention both in the Yukon and across the country that Federal Justice Minister Alan Rock announced a review of the Ralph Klassen case file.

This led to a launch of a federal Crown appeal on the grounds that Ralph Klassen's sentence was inadequate and should have been longer. When it was announced that the appeal would be heard by the BC Court of Appeal, Susan's family members told the White Horse Daily Star that they were glad to hear the news. They were frustrated and angry that the justice system had failed her. It was at this point that Susan's sisters and closest friends started to go public with some

anecdotes about her marriage to Ralph Klassen. They spoke of him being controlling and impatient with violent outbursts and unfounded jealousy and described her being in a jail of a marriage. But she was reluctant to leave because she was deeply religious and believed that marriage was sacred, something you have to work at. Susan's sisters and friends also noted

that she and Ralph moved nine times during the 13 years they were married because of Ralph. Susan had grown tired of moving and just wanted to put roots down somewhere. But as soon as Susan was well accepted and started making friends, it was time for them to move. Quote, white horse was the place Susan put her foot down. This comment suggested that after four years

in a place where Susan was thriving and felt at home, Ralph wanted her to move yet again, and she clearly didn't want to. It's also consistent with the testimony of Ralph's friend Dale about the purchase of a house in High River, Alberta, then Ralph telling him he was backing out of it at around the same time that Susan asked for the six-month trial separation. Isolation is a key tactic used by abusers because it's much easier to control a partner who is vulnerable, lonely and without a support network. An abuser can use emotional manipulation to isolate their partner by making it so difficult for them to maintain other relationships that they simply give up trying. The abusive partner might be super needy of their partner's attention, constantly insisting on one-on-one time and portraying it as

romantic when the real reason is a need for control. In addition, the abusive partner often weaponizes their own jealousy to make their partner guilty, constantly checking up on their whereabouts and online activity, and accusing their partner of disloyalty. The abuser might refuse to interact with their partner's friends and family, and invent reasons to persuade them to cease contact as well. It seems that Ralph Klassen utilized a number

of these emotional isolation tactics, as well as physical isolation, his apparent need to move constantly. For finally putting her foot down, Susan paid the ultimate price. In May of 1997, as everyone was waiting for the upcoming appeal hearing, an edition of the White Horse Daily Star was published with the front page headline, Clarsen's Former Wife Recalls Abuse. As you'll remember, Ralph had been married briefly five years before he married Susan, and at trial he testified their separation was due to mutual incompatibility.

It was only after he was sentenced that the petition to divorce document from his first marriage came to light. It stated that after just three months of marriage, Ralph Klassen's first wife asked for a divorce on the grounds of physical or mental cruelty that made their continued cohabitation intolerable. She agreed to an interview with reporter Yvette Brand for the White Horse Daily Star. While they were married she was known as Elizabeth Claussen and after their divorce she moved and changed her name. Elizabeth told the reporter that her relationship with Ralph was wonderful at first, and described him as having a good sense of humor and a bit of a rebellious streak.

Given his later religious studies and brief stint as a church pastor, it's curious to note that Elizabeth said he was not a really religious man. She added that Ralph could never please his father, and always felt that he could never please his father and always felt that he would never be good enough. Elizabeth vividly remembered the day she witnessed Ralph's temper for the first time. She accidentally purchased the wrong brand of cigarettes

for him and he became enraged, threw them at her and ripped a purse from her arm. She said that when he saw that she was extremely upset, he offered excuses, reasons, and reconciliation. This is so typical in abusive relationships that it has a name, the cycle of abuse. The cycle starts with the tension building, and the survivor is on edge, leading up to an incident of abuse, whether it be verbal, emotional or physical.

Then there's the reconciliation stage, where the abuser gaslights the survivor into thinking what happened was their fault or it wasn't so bad. The abuser love bombs them with compliments, gifts and romantic gestures to get back into their good graces. The final stage is calm, but because it's a cycle, it doesn't take long before tensions start building yet again, leading to another abusive incident. And the cycle continues. And the cycle continues. Elizabeth said that as their wedding date drew closer, she felt alone and isolated as she was living away from home and her family. Once they were married, the situation became unbearable

and she described their three months of marriage as dark and stormy. According to the White Horse Daily Star, the eight-page petition for divorce disclosed a number of violent acts and incidents that prompted Elizabeth to leave Ralph. Two days after their wedding, Elizabeth went to night school

and then met up with a girlfriend. And when she returned home at a time that Ralph considered to be too late, he was very upset and jealous. The petition reportedly states he hit her several times and, quote, tried to choke her and generally threw her around. On another occasion, Ralph got jealous of new friends Elizabeth had made and, quote, once again, he hit her several times

and repeated the same accusations of unfaithfulness which were untrue and which distressed her severely. In her interview, Elizabeth recalled that after hours of angry ranting and physical aggression from Ralph, he grabbed their marriage license, shook it in her face and said, this piece of paper says I own you. After the divorce they lost touch and Elizabeth moved away. When her brother told her he'd seen on the news that

Ralph Klassen had been charged with murdering his wife, she considered coming forward but said she didn't know how useful her evidence would be since But less than two weeks after Ralph Klassen's trial, Elizabeth changed her mind and came forward to the RCMP. She also contacted Susan Klassen's family members to let them know. They were stunned to read that similar tests were being conducted by the RCMP. They were also told that the results of the tests were not accurate.

The results of the tests were not accurate. The results of the tests were not accurate. came forward to the RCMP. She also contacted Susan Claussen's family members to let them know. They were stunned to read that similar to Susan, Ralph had also tried to choke or strangle Elizabeth. This would have been highly relevant information for the trial. Multiple studies have shown that a history of choking or strangulation is the most critical red flag of intimate partner violence,

and one of the best predictors of homicide or femicide. Abusers who attempt to strangle their intimate partners are more likely to engage in other extreme acts of violence. and that he's willing to kill. Susan Claassen's family members were angry that these highly relevant details about Ralph's first marriage were not introduced as evidence at trial. They said both the crown prosecutor and the police failed to look into his history as part of the investigation

and the only reason this information was not available to the public as part of the investigation, and the only reason this information finally came to light was because his ex-wife bravely decided to come forward. Although the trial was done and dusted, Susan's loved ones said they urged the Crown prosecutor to use this new information in some way in the upcoming sentence appeal. The White Horse Daily Star article mentions that Ralph and his family members were asked if they wanted to provide any comment, but they declined. There was something else that Susan's family, along with many others, were angry about. In addition to killing Susan, Ralph Klassen had of course intentionally driven into a

propane truck to cause a crash in an attempt to kill himself. It was only by chance and good fortune that Luke, the driver of that propane truck, was not killed or anyone else on the road that morning. There were many questions about why Ralph Klassen had not been charged with dangerous driving and criminal negligence for that deliberate life-threatening act. A spokesperson for the RCMP said the decision had been made after consultation with the Crown. the decision had been made after consultation with the Crown. Luke told the White Horse Daily Star that after the crash, he was off work for four months

and underwent extensive physiotherapy to deal with soft tissue damage to his lower back. By this point, he was back at work and said he could still do his job, but not as comfortably as he could before the crash. But perhaps even worse, Luke said he hadn't been able to get what happened that morning or the circumstances of it out of his mind.

His wife had been pregnant at the time after suffering a previous pregnancy loss and her anxiety kicked into overdrive as she watched her husband suffer physically and emotionally after the crash. Luke said that because of his injuries, he wasn't even able to carry his newborn in his arms. And ever since then, he'd been waiting patiently and hoping that further charges would be laid against Ralph Klassen in relation to the crash. He said the Crown prosecutor told him that they didn't want to muddy the waters of the trial but they would press charges

afterwards. Luke said that when the jury found Ralph Claassen guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter, the Crown said that pressing charges for the car crash he caused would quote, be seen as sour grapes now. Luke said he was really angry about the decision, quote, they totally ignored me right from the beginning. He decided to take matters into his own hands and filed a complaint with the Yukon government motor vehicle branch, which resulted in Ralph Klassen's driver's license being revoked in that territory. He also filed a civil lawsuit seeking compensation for his physical injuries

and post-traumatic stress disorder. He would later say he received a settlement, but most of the money went to repay the workers' compensation board. When all said and done, Luke was never recognised as a victim of Ralph Klassen and felt completely let down by the criminal justice system. The BC Court of Appeal heard the Crown's sentence appeal four months after the trial in June of 1997. This appeal was considered unusual because the sentence Ralph had been given for manslaughter was based on precedent.

The Crown argued that his sentence should be doubled and urged the panel to ignore those precedents, saying they needed to be changed because the usual sentencing rate was too low for spousal manslaughter. The BC Court of Appeal rejected it, essentially saying that a sentence of five years is within the usual range of that offence and it's not in their scope to challenge precedents. And curiously, the written appeal decision also acknowledges the recent publicity around Ralph Klasson's first marriage that suggested he had some violent propensities. But quote, no such evidence was presented in the trial. Certainly there was no suggestion of violence in the many family victim impact statements provided to the court. The BC Court of Appeal noted that their decision was confined to the evidence that was presented, and the Crown had not tried to introduce any evidence of prior violence.

Susan's sisters were outraged. Brenda would later tell a judicial committee that when they received the form to write their victim impact statements, they wanted to include those details about the violence in the marriage, but they were told to limit themselves to the effect the crime had on them. So they were understandably stunned when the BC Court of Appeal specifically noted that their victim impact statements, but faced a stone wall of refusal.

The court of appeals, which was the first to report the victim's impact statements, said that the court of appeals had been very upset by the decision. The court of appeals, which was the first to report the victim's impact statements, said that the court of appeals had been very upset by the decision. The court of appeals, which was also asked to update their victim impact statements, but faced a stone wall of refusal.

Susan's family felt the case had been mishandled by both the Crown and the police, and they wanted answers. In response to this, the federal Crown prosecutor who led the appeal said that fresh evidence can be introduced at the appeal level, but confirmed they had decided not to because the rules are strict and there are some statutory requirements. The federal prosecution was applying to the Supreme Court of Canada as a next step. Susan's sister Brenda described the appeal decision as unbelievable and noted that her sister's actual name was never mentioned as part of the appeal, including in the written decision. Susan was simply referred to as his wife or the body as though she was non-existent. Susan's family were hopeful that the Supreme Court of Canada might hear the appeal, but the federal prosecution's application was dismissed,

with no reasons given for the decision, which is customary. Susan's family were hopeful that the Supreme Court of Canada might hear the appeal, but the federal prosecution's application was dismissed, with no reasons given for the decision, which is customary. hear the appeal. But the federal prosecution's application was dismissed with no reasons given for the decision which is customary. Devastated, Susan's sister Brenda told the White Horse Daily Star quote, this is it for Ralph Klassen he knows he meant to kill Susan and he knows he's gotten away with it. I just don't understand how a country like Canada

can have laws that continually excuse violence. At the end of that year, the newspaper released a list of the Yukon's top stories of 1997. Susan Claussen's family's dogged quest for justice was named number one. Ralph Claussen applied for day parole as soon as he was eligible in 1998, less than three years after he killed Susan. But in response to negative media attention, he withdrew his application.

He applied again a few months later and was denied. The parole board decision stated he was not ready for release. He hadn't made much progress, had a tendency to be controlling and hadn't shown much insight into his crime. The board noted he denied accusations that he had been physically violent towards Susan.

Just like at his trial, Ralph cried continuously during the parole hearing and asked for forgiveness. Susan's family did not accept his apology, describing it as a personal pity party. They were relieved that parole had been denied, and he did at the end of the following year, 1999, just days after the fourth anniversary of Susan's death. A month later, he withdrew his application again, but it was really a moot point because his sister, Susan, had been a victim of a murder.

Susan's father, who was a former police officer, was a victim of a murder. Susan's later, he withdrew his application again, but it was really a moot point because his statutory release date, the point at which he'd served two-thirds of his sentence, was just six months away in the year 2000. As expected, Ralph Klassen was released from prison that year after spending just over four and a half years in total.

Susan's sister Brenda told the Whitehorse Daily Star that the family has never been the same since Susan's death. Quote, it's been a blink of an eye. It's hard for us to believe he gets to start a new life and we will never get over this. It's hard for us to believe he gets to start a new life and we will never get over this. It's not fair. She said they were on a mission to have the defense of provocation removed

from the criminal code altogether. They weren't the only ones. In 2015, as part of a series of reforms to the Canadian criminal code, the defense of provocation was changed. Now, a person can only claim they were provoked into violence or criminal action if what the other person did to provoke them was illegal and punishable by more than five years in prison. In 2021, the White Horse Daily Star reported that Ralph Klassen had passed away at age 70 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease and dementia. According to Ralph Klassen's online obituary, he lived in numerous places in Canada and

worked as a farmer, builder, trucker, photographer and writer. Although the obituary didn't mention his conviction for the manslaughter of his second wife Susan or the years he spent in prison, it mentioned that Ralph Klassen had been married for a third time and settled on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Quote, he was a man who marched to the tune of his own drummer, thought outside the box,

and was never boring. End quote. In response to this news, Susan's sister Barbara told the paper that her former brother-in-law had finally met his maker and will be judged. Quote, his earthly judgment, which took place in Whitehorse, was pathetic

and a detriment for all who were abused by their spouse. Thanks for listening. If you or a loved one is experiencing family violence, help is available. See the show notes for resources and information. If you found this episode compelling, we'd love for you to tell a friend, post on social media, or leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. To see the full list of resources we relied on to write this episode and anything else you want to know

about the podcast, visit canadiantruecrime.ca. Canadian True Crime donates monthly to those facing injustice. This month we have donated to Kyoshi's Place, the transition home for women and gender diverse people experiencing violence in the Yukon. It is free of charge. There's a link in the show note to learn more.

This has been the final episode for this season. Over the summer, we'll be releasing the case updates episodes as usual, and we'll be back with the next full episode in early September. Audio editing was by Eric Crosby, who also voiced the disclaimer. Our senior producer is Lindsay Aldridge,

and Carol Weinberg is our script consultant. Research, writing, narration, and sound design was by me, and the theme songs were composed by We Talk of Dreams. I'll be back in September with another Canadian true crime episode. See you then. You you