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Banned woman arrested after returning to Manitoba

By: Mike McIntyre

Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012 at 7:42 AM

A chronic criminal who agreed to be banished from Manitoba for five years has made good on her threat to return to the province despite the unusual court order.

Unfortunately for Alanna Phizacklea, justice officials have also made good on their threat to arrest her. The former Winnipeg resident was taken into custody last week and is being held at the Winnipeg Remand Centre. Phizacklea is charged with violating terms of her conditional sentence, which is likely to result in her remaining penalty being converted to jail time.

Phizacklea last appeared in court on Oct. 19 by video link from British Columbia, where she has been living since being sentenced in March for a string of crimes including criminal harassment of two individuals.

The Crown had sought a prison term but agreed to a more lenient two-year conditional sentence and three years of supervised probation as long as Phizacklea agreed to take a one-way ticket out of town and not come back for the duration of her punishment.

Phizacklea claims her former defence lawyer tricked her into accepting the plea deal and she fought to have the condition rescinded. Provincial court Judge Ted Lismer said there are serious safety concerns that require keeping Phizacklea out of Manitoba.

A defiant Phizacklea said 10 days ago she wouldn't be stopped, telling Lismer she planned to hit the road immediately and begin the journey home.

Crown attorney Susan Helenchilde noted police were aware of her case and would promptly take her into custody should they catch her back on home soil.

"I don't care... I'm coming anyways," Phizacklea shouted. Phizacklea, who acted as her own lawyer, said she needed to return to Winnipeg to be with her elderly mother, who had been living in B.C. but moved a few weeks ago. She said they've also held off having a funeral service in Winnipeg for her father since his death more than six months ago.

The Crown opposed ending the banishment, saying Phizacklea has serious untreated mental-health issues and a history of stalking people. In the most recent case, her victim was her probation officer, who had been assigned to work with her following a previous conviction.

Many of her victims live in fear and were happy to learn she had agreed to hit the road, court heard.

Phizacklea has made references to wanting to end her life and take others with her and has spoken about wanting to obtain a firearm, court was told.

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