The Globe and Mail
February 6, 2008
A man the Canadian Jewish Congress came to know as “Exterminance” on the Internet has been given a hefty sentence after being convicted of willful promotion of hatred against identifiable groups, a CJC spokesman said yesterday.
Keith Francis William Noble, 32, was sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court in Prince George to six months in jail.
Mr. Justice Glen Parrett said that was the appropriate sentence for Mr. Noble’s actions, but he gave the Fort St. John resident two months credit for 40 days spent in custody before and during the nine-day trial.
Three years of probation will follow.
Len Rudner, Ontario regional director for the Canadian Jewish Congress, said the congress first became familiar with Mr. Noble when the organization found some of his writings on the Internet, where he called himself Exterminance.
“I was aware of him in that fashion, but it was only after we were approached by the RCMP and asked to comment that I had the opportunity to study his work more closely,” said Mr. Rudner, who testified at Mr. Noble’s November trial.
Mr. Rudner said he doesn’t know precisely what the word means because it is not in the dictionary. He said Mr. Noble made the point on the Internet that his name did not suggest a need to exterminate.
“I suppose Mr. Noble hates or dislikes anybody who does not fit his vision of what the perfect human being is, namely white with a heterosexual orientation.”
What made Mr. Noble “special” for the CJC, said Mr. Rudner, is that he was not only attempting to promote hatred but also trying to recruit people.
“One of the pages that was associated with him there was an explicit call for skinheads to get in touch with him.”
Judge Parrett ordered all computer equipment that police found in Mr. Noble’s apartment forfeited to the Crown for destruction.
During the period of probation, Mr. Noble may not own a computer or access the Internet or go to any establishment where Internet service is the primary business.
Mr. Noble’s website, court heard, had links with white-supremacist groups in Texas.
The Criminal Code section against willful promotion of hatred exempts views expressed in private conversation.
But Mr. Noble published his views through the Internet where millions can read them and interested people almost anywhere may copy and republish his comments.
Judge Parrett said it is impossible to conclude Mr. Noble meant his communications to be private.
On his website, Mr. Noble attacked Jews, blacks, homosexuals and parents who allow their children to marry members of other races. He also expressed sympathy with Ku Klux Klan views, court was told.
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