The recent shooting death of Madisson Cobb in a Haysboro parkade is sparking calls for changes to laws relied upon by police in cases of domestic violence. Cobb’s ex-boyfriend, Devon Bradley Malik, is charged with first-degree murder. Cobb had a restraining order against Malik at the time. “She did everything she was supposed to do. She got out. She got the protection order; she got all of it, and it still wasn’t enough,” said Jordan Guildford, founder of Gems for Gems, an organization committed to awareness and fundraising for victims. “Our laws are just not strict enough.” An ambassador with her organization is arranging a rally at Municipal Plaza at noon on Saturday. “The whole point of it is to raise awareness about the change that needs to happen,” said Guildford. Speakers include family of victims, police and domestic violence prevention advocates. “Everyone can do something to end this cycle,” said Guildford. Malik’s family members spoke to CTV News, saying he continued to obsess over and harass Cobb. It’s alleged he was even GPS-tracking her car despite the court order to stay away. He was also charged with criminal harassment before her death. Officials with Sagesse Domestic Violence Prevention Society say criminal charges are more effective than restraining or protection orders. “Often, when someone pursues a restraining order or protection order, they are pursuing it because it’s their only avenue. But if there were coercive control legislation, there might be an avenue that actually allows the police to lay charges, which then puts that perpetrator into a different place in terms of how the system is going to watch them,” said Andrea Silverstone, Sagesse CEO. Canadian lawmakers were close to passing a law that would make “coercive control” a criminal offence. Bill C-332 died when the election was called, and its fate is unknown until Parliament resumes in the fall. With Cobb’s death now before the courts, Calgary police will not comment specifically on that case, but sent CTV News a statement, which read in part: “While we are unable to comment on specific legislative proposals, we support any measures that enhance public safety and our ability to protect the community. Coercive control is a pattern of behaviour we frequently encounter in domestic violence cases. Additional legal tools that recognize and address this form of abuse could strengthen our efforts to support victims and hold offenders accountable.” In May, the province announced “Alberta’s 10-Year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence,” outlining more than 100 targeted actions to prevent violence and support survivors. “This includes significant investments in prevention, education and survivor services,” according to a statement sent to CTV News on Tuesday. It continued, “Alberta is firmly committed to ending all forms of gender-based violence, and we recognize the growing concern around intimate partner violence (IPV). While some have called for IPV to be formally declared an epidemic, Alberta remains focused on leading with action rather than symbolic declarations to address the root causes and impacts of not only IPV but gender-based violence in its entirety.” The press secretary for Alberta’s Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women says an announcement is expected next week on the topic. Questions about strengthening surveillance of violators of restraining orders and protection orders were not answered in time for deadline.
