Tuesday September 4, 2012 (Vol. 37 7 No. 71)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Honouring an all-star: Reg Clarkson’s legacy as an incredible athlete and social activist will live on in the form of a UBC scholarship benefitting student athletes in need. see page 25
Sexual-abuse stories and explicit photographs found in South Surrey home
Court considers child-porn evidence Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Evan Seal photo
Douglas Bowers.
Ten printed photographs and eight pages of child sexual-abuse stories were among items police seized three years ago from the home of Douglas Wayne Bowers, Surrey Provincial Court Judge Michael Hicks heard Thursday. Hicks is presiding over a sentencing hearing for Bowers, a South Surrey man who has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Following his initial guilty plea in December 2010, Bowers had told Peace Arch News he knew there was illegal
material on his computer, but that it day, defence lawyer Robert Doran had been inadvertently downloaded explained that the details of what Bowwhile he was visiting adult-pornogra- ers has pleaded guilty to are the reason phy websites. for the sentencing hearing. (The proceedings stalled last fall, “There’s a disagreement on particuwhen Bowers disputed lars regarding what an expert’s report, and ❝There’s a disagreement on he’s pleading guilty to,” again in March, when particulars regarding what Doran said. Bowers applied to with- he’s pleading guilty to.❞ During testimony, draw his guilty plea. Const. Virginie AchtyRobert Doran He then withdrew that michuk, a former memdefence counsel application five weeks ber of the RCMP Intelater, and the process leading to last grated Child Exploitation Unit (ICE), week’s hearing began anew.) told Hicks the 10 images were found in During a break in proceedings Thurs- the master bedroom of a house in the
16200-block of 40 Avenue during a June 24, 2009 search. The stories were found in the home’s upstairs living room. Following a break, during which Doran and Bowers examined the photos, Doran told Hicks the defence was “willing to make an admission that Mr. Bowers was in possession of those items, which should become part of the facts to which he pled guilty.” At the same time, Doran submitted that “only one or two (of the images) could be depicted as pornographic… maybe four.” see page 4
Pit bull victims join forces
Universal bond Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
It’s not every day that Miss Universe Canada knocks on a four-year-old’s door, but when it came to White Rock’s Emma Cranford, Sahar Biniaz simply couldn’t stay away. After all, the two share a traumatic bond. Both bear the scars of pit bull attacks – Biniaz on her chest, from an attack 11 years ago, and Emma on her face, from an attack Aug. 23. “I can understand what she went through and she’s very brave,” Biniaz said from her perch in the family’s living room Friday, directing the last comment towards Emma. “This is why my title is so valuable.” Biniaz, 25, contacted the family the day before, after learning of the attack on Emma. She pledged to use her reign to help raise awareness of the need for greater restrictions on dangerous dogs. The issue has been a hot topic since last week when Emma’s family told Peace Arch News of their plan to call for a ban on pit bulls. A second, separate attack on a Kelowna child Aug. 25 further fueled the storm. Biniaz said that while she doesn’t believe banning the breed will help, the province should consider implementing regulations requiring pit bulls to be leashed and muzzled whenever they are in public. It is the “most common-sense” move, she said. Fines for violating the rules could be used to benefit the animals.
Tracy Holmes photo
White Rock’s Emma Cranford, 4, meets with fellow dog-attack victim, Miss Universe Canada Sahar Biniaz Friday afternoon. The dog that attacked Biniaz was a pet that reportedly had never shown aggression before. While a dog owner herself, Biniaz said she never got over her fear of pit bulls and other large dogs. “This is not about animal rights and it’s not
about hating a certain breed,” Biniaz said. “It’s, let’s stop this from happening.” Paul Stanton, White Rock’s director of planning, said a ban would be difficult for a small city, but a province-wide ban – similar to Ontario’s – would be more manageable.
A big problem, he said, is that many of the dogs that cause problems in White Rock aren’t owned by residents and are just visiting the city on day trips. “This is where a ban at the provincial level could have far more effect.”
FEEDER SWAP
d in the Watch for the Crosswor dition! E Thursday September 6th
BIRDFOOD t '&&%&34 t ("3%&/ "$$&/54 t 6/*26& (*'54
2421 KING GEORGE HWY., S. SURREY (604) 536-4011 www.surrey.wbu.com Open Mon. - Fri. 9:30 - 5:30 • Sat. 9 - 5 • Sunday 12 - 5
Bring in your OLD bird feeder and buy a brand NEW feeder at...
20% OFF
the regular price