Thursday December 19, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 102))
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
Cinder fellas: Ellie King marks her 25th year of Christmas pantos with her version of the most popular fairy tale of all: Cinderella. i see page 23
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
2012 hit-and-run injured two women in South Surrey crosswalk
Charges one year after joggers struck Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
More than a year after two joggers were struck in a South Surrey crosswalk, charges have been laid against the alleged driver. According to court records, two counts of “fail to stop at accident scene involving bodily harm” were sworn on Barry Christiansen Dec. 6 against a Surrey man.
Barry Russell Christiansen, 54, is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Jan. 21, 2014. On Dec. 3, 2012, just before 8 p.m., Nola Carlson and Shelley Lammers were jogging across 152 Street at 32 Avenue, when they were mowed down by a vehicle turning south. Lammers suffered a concussion, fractured ribs, a collapsed lung, two broken vertebrae
and a lacerated liver. Carlson’s injuries included a broken nose and cheekbone. Evidence from the scene included traffic-camera video that captured the impact and – about 25 seconds later – a figure on foot approach the women and lean over them before rapidly departing. Three days later, police announced the arrest of a 53-year-old Surrey man and the seizure of a BMW X1.
Early last month, investigators forwarded their report recommending charges. On Dec. 4, Neil MacKenzie – communications counsel for the Criminal Justice Branch – told Peace Arch News the charge assessment process was ongoing “and no decision has been made as to whether any charges will be approved.” i see page 4
Costs questioned
Mayor touts tech in Israel Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts is in Israel, drumming up partnerships with medical-technology firms. The mayor is working toward turning the city into the country’s “innovation gateway” and hopes Israeli partnerships will help. Not everyone is enthused with Watts jetting off to Israel on the taxpayers’ dime. Jordan Bateman, B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said prime ministers and premiers often go on these sorts of business missions, but local politicians don’t have the same clout. “To me, the question always comes back to ‘what’s the business plan behind this?’” Bateman said. “We haven’t seen one. And taxpayers are sending the mayor to Israel at a time when we’re contemplating a tax increase, among other issues.” Bateman, a former Langley councillor, said he’s never seen this type of spending at the committee level. “This surprised me… I always thought you couldn’t spend money unless you had a motion of council.” It was instead approved Dec. 2 through the city’s Investment and Innovation Committee. Watts said in a news release that the trip is a worthwhile venture. “Israel is known as the world’s global ‘start-up nation’,” she said. “Surrey is looking to tap into Israel’s pioneering cutting edge medical, entrepreneurial and scientific innovation.”
Visions of sugarplums Surrey’s Chloe Choroszweski (left) dances in the Royal City Youth Ballet Company’s performance of The Nutcracker at Surrey Arts Centre last weekend. Also appearing in the company’s 25th anniversary production were (above) Madison Stocker as Clara and Renato Barbosa as the prince, in a sleigh pulled by ‘reindeer’ of the chorus.
Double-time credited for incarceration since gang leader was arrested
Surrey Six conspirator out in 3 years Sheila Reynolds Black Press
A sentence of 12 years has been handed down to Quang Vinh Thang (Michael) Le – who pleaded guilty to playing a role in the Surrey Six murders – but with credit for time already served, the admitted gang leader now faces just over three years in jail. Chief Justice Austin Cullen delivered the sentence Tuesday afternoon in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, after earlier in the day hearing an agreed submission from Crown and defence lawyers recommending the 12-year sentence, minus double-time credit totalling nearly nine
years for the 4½ years Le has spent in custody. Le pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy to murder rival gang member Corey Lal. There is no minimum sentence for conspiracy to murder, and the maximum is a life sentence. Lal was shot to death in the Balmoral Tower apartment on Oct. 19, 2007, along with five other men: his brother, Michael, Ryan Bartolomeo, Edward Narong, Edward Schellenberg and Christopher Mohan. Cullen said the planned murder of one person “exploded into a monstrous display of wanton, pitiless violence which stole the lives of six people... and caused enormous devasta-
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tion to their remaining family and loved ones.” Cullen said Le’s complicity “in law” is confined to the death of Corey Lal, but said his participation ultimately led to the deaths of the other five victims. “As such, his moral complicity is high,” the judge said. Le apologized to the families of the victims in court Tuesday, saying he hoped they’d one day be able to forgive him. Mohan’s mother, Eileen, said outside court that she wasn’t surprised by Le’s sentence, but said she must accept it in the quest for further justice. i see page 2