The sister of a young mother killed after she was denied a protection against her former boyfriend, the same man now accused of killing her, welcomes new domestic violence legislation to beef up the protection of victims in Manitoba.
Chelsea Baptiste, 22, is the older sister of Selena Rose Keeper. Keeper was found assaulted on Oct. 8 in the 400 block of Flora Avenue in Winnipeg’s North End. Witnesses tried to intervene, but the assault continued and the victim was left unconscious outside.
Keeper, 20, filed for a protection order against her former partner five months before she died. It was denied because a justice of the peace ruled she wasn't in imminent danger.
Baptiste said the changes to help victims secure protection orders was a good move, but said she wishes something was done earlier for her sister.
“She was scared and she was afraid to run into him,” Baptiste said. “If she had that protection order it would have helped her”.
Baptiste said she and Keeper were close. “She was fun, and she was easy to talk to, and there for everyone,” said Baptiste. “She was energetic and exciting to be around.”
Some of the proposed changes in the legislation include, mandatory firearms bans as part of all protection orders, a support person to complete protection order applications, and expanding the use of GPS monitoring.
The province hopes to pass the changes into law before spring 2016.
