'Guy was a freak'
Dad, old acquaintances agree killer was like ticking bomb
To his father, he was "the devil." To old acquaintances, he was a "freak" and a man they feared. Everyone seemed to agree that from an early age James Roszko was a dangerous guy with a huge chip on his shoulder. And he really didn't like the RCMP.
"The guy was a freak. He's been in trouble ever since I've known him," said the man, who requested anonymity. "He had problems years ago already. We started hanging around together when we were kids ... and he started going strange then, and everyone just sort of backed away from him, so he did his own thing."
Local Mounties had trouble with Roszko "for years and years," the man said. "It just amazes me that they would go in there like that. I know I wouldn't go in there unless I was prepared for the worst -- because that's all you could expect from this fellow. It doesn't surprise me if he shot himself either. He wasn't the type of guy to give up."
Roszko has had numerous run-ins with the law over the years, served time in prison at least once and was known as a man who liked weapons. He also shot at people who came on to his rural property before.
In court documents obtained yesterday, Sun Media learned Roszko, 46, faced several charges involving using a 12-gauge shotgun on two trespassing intruders in 1999.
The five charges, including aggravated assault, pointing a firearm and assault with a weapon, were dismissed on Oct. 16, 2003, after the Crown called no evidence.
Edmonton lawyer Guy Fontaine once represented Roszko and said the killer was never a one to be messed with.
"I would never have wanted to be on the bad side of Roszko," Fontaine said.
"He was very self-righteous. He was always right, and everyone was out of line."
This dude was one fucked up idiot