Grief, anger on anniversary of nurse's hospital slaying

Friends and co-workers of a nurse slain at a Windsor, Ont.,hospitalsaid Sunday they find themselves dealing with much more than grief on the first anniversary of her death.

The nursesplaced roses besidea plaque on a treethat bears the name ofLori Dupont, who was stabbed to death a year ago inside theHôtel-Dieu Grace Hospitalby her former boyfriend, Dr. Mark Daniel, who also worked there.

"We miss her because a part of us is gone, too," a tearful Maryanne Robinson said at the solemn ceremony outside the hospital. "We hold up pictures. We want to remember her forever."

Before the slaying, it was well known to hospital administrators that Dupontwas having trouble with Daniel, an anesthesiologist who had been stalking and harassing the 37-year-old recovery room nurse for months after their breakup.

Normally a place of healing, the hospitalwas rocked year ago Sunday whenDaniel hid in the recovery room, then stabbed her to death before later taking his own life.

Nurses who were working the day of the killing recalled carrying their friend to the operating room, where theytried desperately to save her life.

Pattern of harassment

Most nurses in the unit knew about the harassment, and some had reported it to their managers.

"Perhaps if we had all been a little more cognizant of the issues and the trouble that Lori was going through, then we could have advocated for more to be done to protect her," Roberta Dickson, a nurseat the hospital, told CBC News.

Hospital officials have said they considered firing Daniel after Dupont told them she feared for her safety, butconcluded there wasn't sufficient evidence to take action.

Along with helping Dupont prepare the paperwork for a restraining order, the hospital provided escorts to the parking lot and arranged that the ex-couple work separate shifts.

But some nurses said they were so angry with administrators that they refused to attend the official memorial service inside the hospital. Instead, they chose to join in a special vigil outside that was organized by local women's groups and attendedby Dupont's family.

The nurses have another emotional decision to make this week as the hospital holds a memorial service on Wednesday for Daniel. Many said they are still trying to figure out whethertoattend.