Tuesday July 17, 2012 (Vol. 37 No. 57)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
Blogger’s paradise: Surrey’s self-described biggest fan is showcasing his hometown through his blog, SurreyIsTheBomb.com, dispelling misconceptions and featuring many of the things the city has to offer. see page 11
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
Criminology student ran from crash that killed Kassandra Kaulius
Guilty plea in impaired-driving death Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Evan Seal photo
Natasha Warren (centre) at court.
The woman charged in connection with a crash that killed Surrey’s Kassandra Kaulius in 2011 has pleaded guilty. Natasha Warren, a criminology student who now lives in Port Coquitlam, initially faced four charges related to the death of Kaulius. On Friday morning in Surrey Provincial Court,
Warren pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, impaired driving causing death and failure to stop at an accident. Warren was intoxicated while she was driving northbound in a company van on 152 Street on May 3 last year when she slammed into a BMW being driven by 22-year-old Kaulius. Warren ran from the crash and was later found in a nearby green space.
Kaulius died at the scene. Warren’s defense lawyer Mark Cacchioni said his client wanted to plead guilty right away, but he advised her not to. “A lawyer would be negligent in the extreme for ever advising a client to plead guilty to any offence unless that lawyer would have had the opportunity to review the Crown’s case,” he said. see page 4
Cocaine smuggling
Ex-border guard gets 15 years Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
A former South Surrey border guard who helped smuggle an “enormous” amount of cocaine through the Pacific Highway border crossing has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for the crime. Baljinder Kandola, a Cloverdale resident, learned his fate Friday morning in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster. Justice Selwyn Romilly sentenced Kandola’s co-accused, Richmond resident Shminder Johal, to 18 years. In reasons for the sentence, Romilly wrote that he had “few mitigating factors to consider.” Describing Kandola as the “facilitator” of the operation and Johal as Dan Ferguson sketch the “overseer,” Romilly Baljinder Kandola cited Kandola’s breach of trust and the fact he accepted bribes from Johal as among aggravating factors in determining sentence. The pair’s only motivation appeared to be greed, he said. In a July 9 sentencing hearing, prosecutor James Torrance argued both men should get 20 years for the scheme. “This case is about the corruption of a CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) officer and the importation of an enormous amount of cocaine,” Torrance said. see page 2
Support Your Local Economy Spend Your Money At Home
Gord Goble photo
Three days of racing
Nick Greenizan photo
Gord Goble photo
Hundreds took part in this year’s Tour de White Rock, which began with Friday’s hill climb (above), continued with Saturday’s criterium (left) and ended with Sunday’s road race (far left). See Page 27.
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