Peace Arch News, January 31, 2012

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Tuesday January 31, 2012 (Vol. 37 No. 9)

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

Bodychecking bounced: Bodychecking in amateur hockey has been put on ice, following overwhelming support last week by the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association for eliminating the practice at the recreational level. see page 29

Jail term ‘definitely on the table,’ prosecutor says

Plea expected in hit-and-run fatality Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter

A Surrey man charged in connection with the hit-and-run death of White Rock resident Marilyn Laursen is expected to plead guilty next month to a number of charges. According to Surrey Provincial Court records, Kyle Brandon Danyliuk is scheduled to plead guilty to charges Marilyn Laursen including dangerous driving causing victim death and dangerous driving causing

bodily harm in connection with the May 18, 2011 incident. Prosecutor Brad Kielmann said Thursday that the plea decision was made “fairly recently.” It is not official until it is heard in court. Danyliuk’s next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 15. Danyliuk was arrested last July 18, two months to the day after Laursen, 56, was struck and killed by a northbound vehicle as she crossed Johnston Road at

Thrift Avenue in White Rock. Police said at the time that the car that hit Laursen had avoided a police stop and sideswiped another northbound vehicle just prior to the incident, which occurred around 9:40 p.m. A suspect vehicle was found abandoned a short time later in the area of 160 Street and King George Boulevard in South Surrey. At its peak, the police investigation into the hit-and-run involved about 40 officers. It was led by Surrey RCMP’s

Serious Crime Unit, and supported by White Rock RCMP, the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service, Integrated Forensic Identification Services and other Lower Mainland police units. Kielmann said if a guilty plea is entered Feb. 15, the next step will be to set a date for sentencing. While he could not speculate on what sentence may result, Kielmann said a jail term is “definitely on the table.”

Pier work defended

Mayor rebuked for staff criticism Dan Ferguson Staff Reporter

Evan Seal photo

Officers line the entrance to Peace Portal Alliance Church in South Surrey, where helicopter pilot Dave Brolin was remembered Thursday.

Tributes paid to life lost in helicopter crash

Officers, civilians mourn RCMP pilot Sarah Massah Staff Reporter

Dave Brolin knew at age 18 that he wanted to be a helicopter pilot. The Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary alumnus told his dad as much, then quit college to pursue the dream. “He just ran with it and never looked back,” said Cpl. Paul Hayes, recalling a story Brolin’s dad had shared with him in the lead-up to Brolin’s funeral Thursday.

The tale was among several told during the afternoon service at Peace Portal Alliance Church, held nine days after Brolin’s Jan. 17 death. Family, friends and co-workers packed the church to pay tribute to the 46-year-old, a civilian pilot with the RCMP who died shortly after completing a training exercise, when his helicopter crashed near Cultus Lake. He was the craft’s sole occupant. The investigation to determine just what

d in the Watch for the Crosswor Edition! Thursday February 2nd

caused the helicopter to go down is ongoing. Thursday, as bagpipes played, eight Mounties escorted Brolin’s flag-draped casket past hundreds of mourners, many of them in red serge. Hayes’ tales – compiled from family members’ memories – evoked both tears and laughter. He described Brolin as a man who lived life to the fullest; who loved his family, his profession and his country. see page 2

One of the White Rock councillors who voted for new lights and arches for the seaside city’s famous pier last year has defended the decision, saying Mayor Wayne Baldwin was wrong to describe it as Wayne Baldwin a “last-minute panic attack.” Al Campbell did not respond at the Jan. 23 council meeting when the new mayor made his remarks, but days later contacted Peace Al Campbell Arch News to comment that Baldwin was “misinformed” about last fall’s situation. “No panic here,” Campbell states in an email received Thursday. see page 4

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