On the night of Saturday, October 3, 1981, three youths were drinking beer and smoking hashish at the home of one of them. Sometime before midnight his mother, the homeowner, asked them to leave so that she could sleep. The trio then went to Albert's Hotel where one of the other youths, aged 17, had a room. While at the house, the 17-year-old had asked his host for a hammer and a crowbar but was refused. However the third youth, aged 16, obtained the key to a garage and provided the 17-year-old with a hammer and a chrome-plated power bar (a type of long-handled socket wrench). The 17-year-old told his companions that he wanted to use the hammer and power bar to rob a taxi driver. It was later revealed that in addition to the beer and hashish he had ingested LSD. He had also been undergoing psychiatric tests at Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre and at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry in Toronto. The tests indicated that he was suffering from "a form of personality disorder." Shortly before midnight the 17-year-old and the 16-year-old called Star Taxi with the intent of robbing the driver. The third youth refused to be involved. Their call was answered by Norman Dunn, 46. He had been driving for Star Taxi for four or five years. A fellow driver described him as "really nice. He liked to exercise and was learning karate." The two youths directed Mr. Dunn to an address on the Buffalo Ankerite Property, the site of a gold mining operation which also included a few homes. As they were proceeding along a road Mr. Dunn slowed down for some water-covered spots. At that point the 17-year-old, who was sitting in the back seat, struck him on the head six or seven times with the hammer. Both youths immediately fled the scene. The 16-year-old waded through a swamp to a residence at 6 Aunor Property and asked for the police to be called. Mr. Dunn was discovered unconscious in his cab. He died soon after being transported to St. Mary's General Hospital. [Next column]

Norman Dunn. (Source: Timmins Daily Press, Monday, October 5, 1981, p. 1.) Both the attackers were charged with murder. In May, 1982, the 16-year-old pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to five years in prison. In September, 1982, the 17-year-old killer was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for ten years. Mr. Dunn was survived by his mother, three brothers and a sister. Mr. Dunn's mother, Marie Rose Dunn, published a card of thanks in the Timmins Daily Press that included "the owners, dispatchers and cab drivers from Star Taxi and Vet's Taxi for their kindness during our recent bereavement."