CALGARY - Six months after his son was gunned down in Thailand, Ernie Del Pinto is stepping up his public campaign to get the Canadian government to get involved and ensure justice is served.
"I'm not going to let this go," Del Pinto said Tuesday of his frustrating efforts to have someone found guilty for the killing of his son Leo in January.
A transit bus ad campaign in Calgary is hoped to bring in cash for the newly created 'Justice for Leo' fund. And he hopes public pressure will force Ottawa to do more.
The Department of Foreign Affairs says Secretary of State Helena Guergis has written twice to the Thai foreign minister and continues to press for a thorough and transparent investigation into the shooting.
Foreign Affairs said that the Thai government has appointed the Department of Special Investigations to lead the investigation into Leo's death, and in the meantime they "continue to monitor developments on the investigation closely."
But that's cold comfort for Del Pinto.
"They can monitor all they want. If this doesn't go ahead and get brought to trial, we're not going to get anywhere."
An off-duty Thai police sergeant was arrested and charged with premeditated murder in the case, but as far as the Del Pintos know he is out of jail, still carrying a badge and still working.
Del Pinto says his son was shot at close range in the face and chest for defending his friend, fellow Canadian Carly Reisig, and did nothing to deserve the attack.
Family lawyer Adriano Iovinelli say an initial Thai police investigation called it an "accidental shooting," but the country's human rights commission and several other boards have since disagreed.
Yet even though it's become a national investigation, half a year after Leo's murder the family still doesn't know if the prosecution has finished its investigation or when or if a trial will be held.
Iovinelli says Ottawa should demand that the Thai government set strict deadlines for court dates to push the matter forward.
And until that happens, Del Pinto says Canadians should avoid Thailand.
"I might be speaking out of line here, but I want their tourism to hurt. Because they've got to understand they killed a Canadian citizen - an innocent Canadian boy."
