Up front: Couple nearly home on trek-for-transplants jaunt On stage: Cowichan set uncork its biggest wine festival ever
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Friday, September 7, 2012
Gillespie recounts tale of the night he was shot by a cop Pompeo trial: Victim denies any attempt to flee or threaten officer Don Bodger
News Leader Pictorial
G
raphic testimony by Bill Gillespie described the Const. David Pompeo approachmoment he es the Duncan courthouse for was shot by Const. David Pompeo on Sept. 18, 2009. his trial Wednesday morning. “I knew I’d been shot,’’ he said during questioning by Crown Counsel Todd Patola in Pompeo’s aggravated-assault trial this week at the Duncan courthouse. “I couldn’t believe it. It was one of those Àash bangs. Then I remember lying on the ground and blood gushing out all over my face. I remember tasting it and choking on it.’’ Gillespie acknowledged he was driving while prohibited on Henry Road, heading toward friend Dale Brewer’s place when he noticed a police vehicle behind him. “Panic set in,’’ Gillespie said. “I got nervous and realized the police were behind me. I ¿gured there was nowhere to go so I pulled up into Dale’s driveway where I was going in the ¿rst place.’’ The panic stemmed from a three-year driving ban dating back to 2007, he said. He testi¿ed he coasted down Juniper Road to Brewer’s driveway, aware of the of¿cers’ presence and stopped in the driveway. “I didn’t see the problem moving ahead 70 feet to pull into my friend’s driveway.’’ Gillespie said he stopped immediately in the driveway. “There was no skidmarks or anything. I just came to a nice controlled stop.’’ At that point, “Dale and I were both ordered out of the car at gunpoint,’’ said Gillespie. “I heard both of¿cers. I, myself, was paying attention to the of¿cer on the driver’s side of the car.’’ That was Const. Pompeo, who was accompanied by Const. David Barnett. “What did you hear the of¿cers say?’’ Patola asked of Gillespie. “Put your hands on your head and get down to your knees onto the ground,’’ responded Gillespie. more on A5
Jakob Buttner-Danyliw gives his mom, Ann, a hug on the Ärst day of school before entering Grade One at Maple Bay Elementary School.
Andrew Leong
Students go back to school with drunken party Three-hour gong show: Police custody and hospital visits after drunken underage party in Shawnigan Lake area John McKinley
News Leader Pictorial
S
omeone forgot to tell south Cowichan’s next generation of leaders: graduation is in June. Shawnigan Lake RCMP arrested four people and sent three more to hospital after breaking up what they were told was a grad party in rural Shawnigan Lake
Tuesday night. According to a release from Cpl. Jason Kerr, police received a complaint about a large party at about 10 p.m. When they arrived, they found 100 plus young people, most of whom were at various states of intoxication and most of whom were under the legal drinking age. Kerr said the youths identi¿ed themselves as the “grad class” from Frances Kelsey Secondary School. “Due to the high level of intoxication for some of the youths, B.C. Ambulance Paramedics were required to attend to assist in treating and assessing. Ambulance crews from Mill Bay and Duncan responded to the scene,” Kerr said. “Three youths — one female, two males, all under age — were determined to require medical treatment due to their high levels of
intoxication and were subsequently transported via ambulance to hospital in Duncan. Police held four boys in custody until they sobered and expect charges to be laid under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act. Parents and sober friends of the attendees were called to attend in order to safely transport the people home. “This incident occupied a signi¿cant amount of emergency service resources as all the onduty members of the Shawnigan Lake RCMP were required to attend along with two B.C. Ambulance crews,” Kerr said. “Police spent approximately three hours breaking up the party, ensuring those requiring medical attention received it, contacting sober people to pick up the intoxicated persons, making sure no one was attempting to drive drunk and transporting some to cells.”
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