Bernardo tapes destroyed, says lawyer for victims' families

Horrific videotapes of the rape and torture of two schoolgirls by convicted murderer Paul Bernardo have finally been destroyed, according to the lawyer for the victims' families.

All known copies were destroyed along with a "significant amount" of other materials, said Tim Danson, representing the families of victims Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French.

"As long as the videotapes and other sensitive materials remained in existence, Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French continued to be violated, exploited and harmed," Danson said.

"They are finally free, with their dignity and humanity restored."

Tapes concealed for years

The tapes were a critical and contoversial part of the evidence that convicted Bernardo. They were not discovered by police when they searched Bernardo's house following his 1993 arrest.

Their existence was eventually revealed to police by his ex-wife, Karla Homolka, as part of a plea-bargain that saw her convicted of two counts of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

• FROM DEC. 14, 2000: Bernardo tapes could be destroyed soon

They also showed attacks on Homolka's sister Tammy and a fourth victim identified only as Jane Doe.

At that time, they were in the possession of Bernardo's first lawyer who did not hand them over for another two years, due to their damning nature.

He was later charged with attempting to obstruct justice but acquitted in 2000.

The families had campaigned for the tapes' destruction, and after Ken Murray's trial, the Ontario government indicated it was prepared to grant their request as soon as the tapes were no longer needed as evidence.