Family of slain Canadian frustrated at lack of progress in Thai murder case

CALGARY — The frustrated family of a Canadian man gunned down in Thailand six months ago wants the federal government to make sure that justice is served and someone is found guilty of murder.

Until that happens, Ernie Del Pinto says Canadians should avoid Thailand and let the country’s tourism trade suffer in the wake of his son Leo’s death.

An off-duty Thai police sergeant was arrested and charged with premeditated murder in the case, but as far as the Del Pintos know he is out of jail and still working.

The family says half a year after Leo’s murder, they don’t know if the prosecution has finished its case or when or if a trial will be held.

Nintendo unveils Wii Remote upgrade, new games

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Wii Remote is getting in touch with its sensitive side.

Nintendo unveiled Wii MotionPlus at the E3 Business and Media Summit on Tuesday. The new accessory plugs into the base of the Wii Remote and will provide more intuitive motion controls. Wii MotionPlus is scheduled for release in spring and will come packaged with “Wii Sports Resort,” which will feature beach-themed activities such as frisbee throwing and jet skiing.

The company also showed off music simulator “Wii Music” and the WiiSpeak room microphone, which will sell for $29.99. Nintendo said the first game to use the microphone would be “Animal Crossing: City Folk.” Games announced for the Nintendo DS include “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” and “Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades.”

26 Canadian playwrights vying for $100,000 Simonovitch Prize

Colleen Murphy, Toronto-based author of The December Man, and Vern Thiessen, Edmonton-based author of Vimy, are among 26 playwrights nominated for the $100,000 Simonovitch Prize.

The Elinore & Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, Canada’s richest theatre prize, alternates among playwrights, directors and theatre designers.

The long list of nominated playwrights released Tuesday is a who’s who of Canadian playwriting talent, including veterans such as Toronto’s Morris Panych, author of Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, and Daniel MacIvor, who wrote A Beautiful View.

Murphy’s The December Man, a story based on the 1989 Montreal massacre, earned her a Governor General’s Award for drama.

Thiessen’s Vimy, about the battle for Vimy Ridge, had its world premiere at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre last October.