New report details generations of violence in Nova Scotia gunman’s family

Warning: This story incorporates graphic depictions of kid abuse and home violence.

Gabriel Wortman, who shot and killed 22 individuals throughout a 13-hour rampage in Nova Scotia, skilled excessive childhood abuse and neglect, in line with a brand new report by the general public inquiry trying into the April 2020 killing spree.

The report relies on police interviews with the gunman’s household, associates and acquaintances. It echoes previous reporting by International Information that particulars a legacy of alleged violence within the Wortman household going again at the very least 4 generations.

A number of individuals who knew the gunman, together with his common-law partner and an uncle, advised police that his father, Paul Wortman, compelled him to commit violence when he was a “little boy.”

“Paul didn’t assume he was caring for the canine in addition to he ought to have. So he made (Gabriel) shoot his canine,” the gunman’s uncle, Neil Wortman, mentioned throughout an interview with police. “What does that do to a child?”

Neil and one other uncle, Glynn Wortman, advised police their brother Paul pointed a gun at his spouse Evelyn Wortman’s head and threatened to kill her if she ever left him.

“My understanding was when (Gabriel) was a little bit boy, (Paul) held a gun to (his) head after which to Evelyn’s,” Glynn mentioned. “However then Paul denied that story.”

The report was accomplished as a part of the inquiry’s mandate to look at the position of gender-based and intimate companion violence within the killing spree.

It has been extensively reported that the gunman had a historical past of abusing his common-law partner, Lisa Banfield. This features a violent assault on the night time the capturing spree started, which left Banfield with severe accidents.

He additionally had a historical past of violence towards others: threatening to kill his dad and mom, threatening to kill a police officer, and pleading responsible to assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2001.

The gunman’s violent previous might be detailed in one other report set to be launched by the inquiry later this week.

1:39Explaining violence doesn’t imply excusing violent behaviour

However allegations of abuse throughout the Wortman household, together with towards the gunman as a toddler, has gone largely unreported.

Criminologists, psychologists and sociologists who’ve beforehand spoken with International Information for the investigative podcast 13 Hours: Contained in the Nova Scotia Bloodbath, mentioned it’s necessary to know this historical past of abuse — not as a method of excusing the gunman’s crimes, however as a approach of stopping related tragedies sooner or later.

“It’s actually necessary to not blame every thing on childhood trauma,” mentioned Ardath Whynacht, a sociologist at Mount Allison College, throughout a March 2021 interview with International Information.

“The overwhelming majority of oldsters who expertise household violence and sexual abuse don’t develop as much as go on capturing sprees.

“What we’re speaking about is untangling the complexity of layers that creates a human able to partaking on this type of violence. Understanding the explanations doesn’t imply that we’re excusing the violence.”

The inquiry’s report consists of claims that generations of Wortman males violently abused their households.

In a 2010 letter, quoted within the report, Neil described his grandfather, George Wortman, as a “tyrant who brutalized his household.”

Throughout a number of interviews with International Information in late 2020 and early 2021, Neil and Glynn mentioned their father, Stanley Wortman, beat them and their mom.

“He used to punch her, knock her right down to the ground. I used to be a little bit boy,” Glynn advised International Information. “I keep in mind within the kitchen he knocked her down in entrance of Paul and I.”

Throughout these interviews, the brothers mentioned the abuse they endured was so excessive they thought-about killing their father.

“My uncle Arnold gave me, as a present after I was 12 years outdated, a .22-rifle,” Neil mentioned. “I used to lie in my mattress at night time and assume, ‘I actually ought to shoot that man.’ However I by no means had the braveness.”

Glynn stabbed his father one night time when his dad and mom have been arguing. He mentioned he had had sufficient after a long time of abuse.

“I believed, you outdated bastard,” Glynn mentioned. “He bought up and began screaming ‘get out of my room!’ And so I ran over to him and caught the knife in his chest.”

Neil mentioned Glynn spent 9 months in jail for the assault.

Stanley died of coronary heart illness in 1977.

Neil and Glynn allege the abuse didn’t finish with their father.

Each males mentioned Paul bodily assaulted his spouse and emotionally tormented their son.

“There was a historical past within the Wortman household; from my grandfather, who was brutal, to my father, who was brutal, to Paul, who was brutal,” Neil mentioned.

Comparable allegations are contained within the inquiry’s new report.

Alan Wortman, one other of Paul’s brothers, advised police Paul assaulted Evelyn at a household Christmas get together.

“He struck her, knocked her onto the ground and kicked her and kicked her and kicked her,” Alan mentioned.

1:51‘To my pricey good friend Gabriel Wortman’: How the Nova Scotia killer bought his weapons and wealth

The report additionally describes an incident when the gunman, who was an grownup on the time, violently attacked his father throughout a household trip to Cuba.

Banfield advised police the assault occurred throughout an argument in regards to the abuse the gunman allegedly skilled as a toddler.

“(Gabriel) was smashing his head towards the concrete,” she mentioned. “They began speaking about (Gabriel’s) childhood and Paul denied something that he ever did.”

International Information tried to achieve Paul and Evelyn for an interview by sending letters to their residence within the months after the capturing spree.

A letter was additionally hand-delivered to their residence, however Evelyn refused to take it, saying: “I’m not accepting it. Simply go away.”

The inquiry, which has the ability to compel witness testimony, additionally hasn’t spoken with Paul or Evelyn.

“The Fee has not interviewed members of the Wortman household,” the report mentioned. “The Fee’s makes an attempt to talk to some members of the Wortman household weren’t profitable.”

Paul did communicate with police, roughly three weeks after the shootings.

He mentioned he by no means bodily abused his son.

“I by no means hit Gabriel, however I’d be yelling, which might be simply as unhealthy as hitting,” he mentioned. “I had a hell of a mood.”

Paul additionally mentioned he grew up “in a violent household the place there was greater than screaming happening.”

Police didn’t ask if he ever bodily or emotionally abused his spouse. Additionally they didn’t ask him to elaborate on the violence he skilled rising up.

Paul mentioned he and his spouse would have finished something to stop the killing spree.

Evelyn didn’t communicate to police.

— with information from International Information’ Alex Kress and Sarah Ritchie, previously with International Information.

In the event you or somebody you recognize is in disaster and wishes assist, assets can be found. In case of an emergency, please name 911 for quick assist.

• Psychological Well being & Addictions Provincial Disaster Line: 1-888-429-8167
• Go to the Division of Justice’s Victim Services Directory for an inventory of assist providers for individuals experiencing abuse in your space.
• Youngsters Assist Telephone: 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) Accessible 24/7 or Textual content CONNECT 686868