Bernardo confessed to more crimes: lawyer

Convicted sex killer Paul Bernardo confessed last fall to at least 10 more sexual assaults, his lawyer says.

Tony Bryant told CBC News that Bernardo made the admissions in a letter he gave to Bryant last October. Bryant turned the letter over to police in November.

The lawyer said Bernardo didn't tell him why he was admitting to the crimes so many years after the fact.

However, he noted that the admissions were made as debate was raging about the release from prison of Karla Homolka, Bernardo's ex-wife.

"Given all the resurgence of interest with Karla's release from prison, that may have been the trigger," Bryant said.

"I can't say for certain, but that's what was the impetus behind all of this."

Tim Danson, the lawyer for the families of Bernardo's murder victims, thinks the motives are darker.

"We do know there are psychopaths who enjoy the celebrity nature of their crimes and if he's just trying to add more to what he has done. That might be one motive," he said.

Danson also said there's no guarantee Bernardo is telling the truth. But Danson said if his claims are true and it turns out Homolka had a role in the attacks, she could face charges.

Homolka spent 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the abduction and killings of teenagers Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy.

She was released in July 2005 after serving her full sentence.

• FROM JULY 4, 2005: 'I don't want people to think I'm dangerous'

As part of her controversial plea bargain, Homolka testified against her former husband.

She also told police that Bernardo had claimed to have sexually assaulted as many as 30 women.

Bernardo was sentenced in 1995 to life in prison for the French and Mahaffy killings. After his trial, he confessed to 14 additional sexual assaults between 1986 and 1991.

He was also declared a dangerous offender, meaning he can be kept in prison indefinitely.

Bernardo has been cited as a suspect in the 1990 disappearance and presumed murder of Elizabeth Bain, but Bryant said Tuesday that she was not included on the new list of confessions.

Bain's former boyfriend, Robert Baltovich, was convicted of her murder in 1992. He spent eight years in prison before he was released on bail.

• INDEPTH: Robert Baltovich

Baltovich's lawyers have argued that Bernardo was likely responsible for Bain's death.

His conviction was set aside in 2004, and he was ordered to stand trial again.

Toronto police acknowledged receiving Bernardo's confession. But they say the allegations have been checked out and no new charges will be laid at this time.

Police said investigators were already aware of a number of the alleged assaults, but that in some of those cases, victims at the time made it clear to police they did not want to proceed with an investigation.

Police also said that in some cases, there was insufficient information to launch an investigation.