Thursday January 29, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 9)
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Animal care: Homeless animals got a helping hand Sunday, as veterinary staff and volunteers in Surrey and Burnaby performed free surgeries on 40 animals from local shelters. i see page 11
Al Paskall attends preliminary hearing of man accused of killing his wife, Julie
I wish I could take her place: husband Sheila Reynolds Black Press
Julie Paskall
If he could somehow turn back the clock, Al Paskall wouldn’t hesitate. He would return to the night of Dec. 29, 2013, and instead of his wife, he would be the one to go pick up his son from hockey. Paskall was at Surrey Provincial Court Tuesday to attend the first day of a preliminary hearing for Yosef Jomo Gopaul, who’s accused of killing his wife, Julie.
“Somebody has to be here for her,” Paskall said during a break in the proceedings. “I wasn’t there when I should have been there, so I think that it’s paramount that I should be here now.” Julie Paskall drove to Newton Arena, near 71 Avenue and 136B Street, on Dec. 29, and was walking to get her son when she was attacked. She was taken to hospital, where she died two days later, on Dec. 31, 2013. She was 53. “I still blame myself a lot for the death,” the husband
shares. “I could have been there easily, picking my son up instead of her. “I wish I could take her place.” Evidence from the preliminary inquiry is subject to a publication ban and cannot be reported. Preliminary hearings are held to determine if there is enough evidence to justify a trial. Most of Tuesday’s testimony came from the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy. i see page 4
Early setup cancelled
Frustration over market start time Sarah Massah Staff Reporter
Along for the ride
Boaz Joseph photo
White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin and Nelson-based artist Denis Kleine share a seat by the new bronze ‘Passenger’ sculpture, during its official unveiling Saturday in front of the White Rock Museum. Council last year approved spending $80,000 to commission the piece, with an aim to commemorate the history and people of the White Rock Train Station.
Lifelong ban prohibits Emma Paulsen from operating an animal-care business
Six-month jail sentence for dog walker Applause erupted in a Surrey courtroom Wednesday, as former dog walker Emma Paulsen was sentenced to six months in jail, handcuffed and led into custody by sheriffs. Paulsen, who lives in Ladner, pleaded guilty in November to animal cruelty and public mischief for the deaths of six dogs in her care and lying to police about it last May. Her sentencing was held in Surrey Provincial
Court, with Judge James Jardine also sentencing her to two years probation, banning her from owning pets for 10 years and prohibiting her from operating an animal-care business for life. Jardine said that while Paulsen may not have intended to kill the dogs, her conduct after the incident constituted “continued, repeated recklessness.” Paulsen, who was a professional dog walker
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for several years, sparked widespread media coverage, public grief and desperate searches after she initially reported that six dogs were stolen from the back of her truck, which she claimed was parked at a park in Langley. Five days later, she admitted the canines died in the back of her warm, canopied truck while she was shopping in Richmond. – Sheila Reynolds
An exemption request by the White Rock Farmers’ Market to continue to set up for the event before 8 a.m. was partially backed by city staff but ultimately shot down by elected officials this week. According to market president Sandy VanDeKinder, a 7 a.m. start time for the upcoming summer market – set to open May 24 – is essential for vendors to set up in Miramar Village Plaza prior to customers coming in at 8:30 a.m. “The main reason is safety for us. It’s almost logistically impossible to get 80 vendors on that site and get their vehicles off in an hour, which is what would have to happen if we weren’t given that exemption,” VanDeKinder explained during a delegation at Monday evening’s council meeting. She noted that in all the years the market has been running, the organization had yet to receive any noise complaints. After inquiries were made by council about changing the logistics of the market – including moving a portion of it away from Russell Avenue – VanDeKinder expressed frustration as to why there was an issue to continue to grant the exemption. i see page 4
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