VICTIM'S HOME CALLED CRACK HOUSE

Death Wake-Up Call, Say Upset Residents

Two days before a Windsor man was murdered in his home early Saturday
morning, the house where he lived was the topic of conversation during
a community meeting of residents determined to end the drug traffic
and prostitution in the downtown neighbourhood.

Robert Phillips, 59, was killed sometime overnight Friday in a house
at 406 Glengarry Ave. which residents claim was "obviously a drug
house because of the amount of people coming and going at all hours of
the day," said Kim MacDonald, who is spearheading a campaign to clean
up the neighbourhood.

"I hope this was a wake-up call to how serious this really is," said
MacDonald, a resident of 333 Glengarry Ave. "We have our good days and
our bad days, but it's been really bad around here lately."

Three months ago, MacDonald, who lives in a Windsor/Essex County
Housing Corporation apartment building across the street from where
Phillips was killed, took her complaints about drug dealers and
prostitutes working in the building to Mayor Eddie Francis.

Within days, extra security and security cameras were added, but for
the most part, "nothing much has changed," said MacDonald.

"It was bound to happen sometime," said resident Nick Cadarian, about
the murder. "It was a crack house --- you could tell."

While Cadarian said the police are doing a good job, their presence
has greatly diminished in their area, and the problems have conversely
appeared again.

"We've got to clean it out. All of it."

About 40 residents attended the meeting Thursday hosted by a number of
organizations, including Windsor Police Services, Legal Assistance of
Windsor and the City of Windsor.

"There can be success here," said Shelley Gilbert, co-ordinator of
social work with Legal Assistance of Windsor.

"It's important that neighbours want to do something."

Meanwhile, police are continuing their probe into the beating
death.

Third Suspect Possible

"It's a very active investigation," said Windsor police Staff Sgt. Ed
McNorton. "We have to keep our eyes and ears open on this one," he
said, adding the police are continuing to explore the possibility of a
third suspect.

Forensic investigation was expected to wrap up at the home late Monday
evening.

Jamie Whitehead, 34, and Paul King, 44, were arrested without incident
Saturday and charged with first-degree murder.

Windsor lawyer Maria Carroccia is representing both
parties.

"It's too premature in this investigation to comment," she said about
her clients, but added she has represented both parties in the past.

Whitehead and King are to appear in court today at 10 a.m. for a video
remand.