WEDNESDAY
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June 20, 2012
A division of
Vol. 27 No. 49
COMOX VALLEY RECORD Your community. Your newspaper. www.comoxvalleyrecord.com
Accused awaiting his fate
VISITORS WELCOME ELCOME
Our annual visitor guide is in today’s paper. ■ Insert
Erin Haluschak Record Staff
KOSTER A MASTER
STREET SOCCER ACTION happens on grass at the Maple Pool Campground in Courtenay. Courtenay’s Greg Koster captured the Master-40 division title at the 2012 Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, held June 13-15 at the Summerland Golf and Country Club. A playoff was needed to decide the winner. Koster, who admittedly struggled on the final day, birdied his final hole in regulation to shoot a plusfour, 219 total and get into a two-man playoff with Pitt Meadow’s resident Greg Bismeyer.
... Complete story on ■ 32
FINDER ■ Weather
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■ Lottery
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■ Ferry Schedule
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■ The Arts
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■ Classified
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■ Sports
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■ Editorial
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■ 2012 Grad
INSERT
PHOTO BY SCOTT STANFIELD
Maple Pool residents kick back Scott Stanfield Record Staff
It’s late afternoon at the Maple Pool Campground and RV Park. There aren’t many signs of life throughout the site off Headquarters Road in Courtenay, except for a group of soccer players on the grass field at the rear of the park. Two teams of four play on a field about 22 metres long. Joan laughs as she skids on the slick surface resulting from a light rain on this cool June day. “I felt like I was skiing,” she quips. A few minutes into the game, Martin decides to kick off his shoes and play barefoot. Like
Martin, Gord displays natural foot speed as he chases the ball and fires home a goal. Though not as nimble as the other two, the heavier-set James understands positioning and is able to control and pass the ball with ease. Others show up as the game progresses. Dressed in a grey hoodie and kickboxing pants, Ian strolls over from an RV and plays goalie for our team. Then the 20something Dan, accompanied by his blue healer dog, arrives by bicycle and joins the other team. Dan’s experience with a hacky sack is evident as he tears around the pitch. These are among the 10 or 12 regulars who participate in a weekly street soccer program
that provides an opportunity for people on the fringes of society to exercise, socialize and have fun. “It’s just startling to see how much fun they have,” said program co-ordinator Grant Shilling, a residential support program worker at the Dawn to Dawn: Action on Homelessness Society. “It’s a good social occasion.” Gary and John were reluctant participants at first but once immersed in the action as goalies, they wanted to stay in the game. “We’ve had guys literally on crutches in net,” Shilling said. After nearly an hour of play we break for water, fruit and cookies. During halftime I discover Martin’s lifelong love of astronomy ... see MAPLE POOL ■ 2
The teen accused of murdering James Denton may know his fate by Aug. 1. Supreme Court Justice R.B.T. Goepel told court Thursday afternoon following closing statements by both defence lawyer Michael Mulligan and Crown prosecutor Gordon Baines, the date is tentatively set for a decision, and if required, both lawyers should be prepared to argue sentencing following the verdict. During the final day of the trial — which was originally scheduled until June 22 — Mulligan argued the judgment of young people, particularly that of the 17-yearold accused, is often not at an adult level. The court heard throughout the trial that Denton, 19, was stabbed twice — once in the left armpit and once in the left lower back — near the entrance to G.P. Vanier Secondary School following the conclusion of a day-long music festival at the nearby Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds. Mulligan argued people the age of the accused, who was 16 at the time of the incident and cannot be named because of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, believe they are invincible. “We do our best to protect young men from themselves ... we ought not to judge people of that age too harshly. Some of the choices on that night were poor ones,” he noted. He referred to case law to note that young persons do not have an adult’s ability to see consequences. Mulligan argued his client’s reaction to hearing of Denton’s death while in police cells is not reflective of someone who wanted to commit murder. “His answer of, ‘Oh, my god, did ... see DEFENCE ■ 3
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