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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2002

A 911 operator who took one of the calls from two Aboriginal sisters killed in a domestic violence dispute testified on Wednesday that the incident has had negative effects on the emergency system in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Caroline Kohut said during an inquest hearing that operators are second-guessing themselves. Serious domestic violence incidents are receiving low priority because operators are worried about a repeat of the deaths of Corinne McKeown and Doreen Leclair.

The sisters, who lived in a poor neighborhood in Winnipeg that has a high Native population, had made five calls to 911 the night they died in February 2000. Police responded to the first call but were unable to determine the man who killed them was the ex-boyfirend of McKeown, who had a restraining order against him.

Police responded to the last call and found the women stabbed to death.

Get the Story:
'No morale' at Winnipeg 911 call centre: operator (CBC 1/23)

Relevant Links:
The 911 Tapes - http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/911_tapes

Related Stories:
Death of sisters haunts 911 operator (1/23)