The arts: Cowichan author’s fantasy becomes reality The Good Life: Excuse me, there’s a submarine in your yard
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Gross negligence or horriÄc family tragedy? Menard shooting: Judge asked to weigh several factors in sentencing
FireÄghters battle pair of forest blazes Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
A
lphonse Brendon Menard must wait another month for a judgement in the manslaughtershooting of his father. The delayed decision by B.C. Supreme Court Judge Nathan Smith upset Menard’s family, who comforted each other during Friday’s sentence-hearing testimony by Crown and defense lawyers in Duncan’s courthouse. “Oh my God,” one family member sobbed upon hearing about court’s next sitting on Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. “It’ll be interesting,” Nanaimo resident Menard, 23, told the News Leader Pictorial after court adjourned, leaving him and his family worried a sentence might be given. Judge Smith heard a day of testimony, including various Canadian manslaughter cases — with decisions that can span Peter W. Rusland a suspended sentence to life in Friday’s closing arguments in the manslaughter sentence-hearing of Alphonse Brendon Menard ended with Judge Nathan Smith reserving judgment until Oct. 22. prison — outlined by Crown scribed medication, alcohol, Menard said from the stand, told Judge Smith. sentence, suggested by King counsel Scott Van Alstine, and cannabis and other factors may where his close-shaven head Regardless, Crown counsel and his cited cases, would Menard’s defense lawyer Bert have fogged Menard’s actions. often hung low during the later reminded the court Mecarry continued psychological King. He pleaded guilty to manhearing. nard Sr. was killed in his prime. testing, and medical treatment Testimony premiered publicly slaughter Sept. “I’m sorry for all the pain and “A suspended sentence is for a December 2004 car acFriday focused 11, avoiding agony I’ve caused our family,” a very rare cident. on how and a trial for he said, also apologizing to his outcome,” Van That crash why Menard “This young man will second-degree late father’s friends. Alstine said of left Menard admittedly shot “This is not a mere murder. Menard is not in custody. decided cases of with brain his father, Tony live a life of hell.” accident.” Court staff He has strictly followed “near accident, damage plus Menard, 52, on had trouble earlier-imposed bail condiand we’re far convulsive and July 4, 2010 hearing tions — banning driving and from that line non-convulduring a campsoft-spoken weapons possession — noted here.” sive epileptic ing and targetMenard when King, who asked the judge to He cited case seizures, two practice outing with friends and asked by Judge Smith if he “craft” a three-year suspended precedence, and requested a jail or more of which he had the family west of Nitinat Lake on wanted to address the court. sentence for his client. sentence of between three and weekend of his father’s death, Cowichan’s fringe. “I take full responsibility for “This young man will live a ¿ve years. court heard. Some testimony included what happened,” a dark-suited life of hell, in any event,” King Menard’s suspended more on A4 how epileptic seizures, pre-
King
van Alstine
I
t is double-trouble for Cowichan on the forest ¿re front. A second local wild¿re — at Hill 60 near Duncan — started Monday night, joining a forest blaze sparked Saturday in the Shawnigan Lake region, of¿cials say. Neither infernos threatened homes, buildings or people’s safety, but both were still demanding attention at press time. Shawnigan’s human-caused ¿re was 80% contained on its east Àank after burning some 20 hectares of private TimberWest land, reported Donna MacPherson of the Coastal Forest Service. The Hill 60 ¿re — four kilometres west of Duncan, 1 1/2 km north of Highway 18 — had charred some three hectares of Àat land, but was classed as a low-vigour surface ¿re Tuesday afternoon. “With very little wind, this ¿re is moving slowly,” Cowichan region’s publicsafety spokeswoman, Sybille Sanderson, said. It was unknown if the Hill 60 ¿re was human caused, she said. Hill 60’s inferno was being battled by 15 ¿re¿ghters, three helicopters, and a water truck. The larger forest ¿re, 12 1/12 km wast of Shawnigan Lake, was being attacked by 57 ¿re¿ghters, three choppers — believed scooping water near Koksilah Ridge Tuesday — heavy equipment, six tree fallers, and three water trucks. About two dozen ¿re¿ghters arrived Monday to help contain and snuff Shawnigan area’s ¿re. more on A4
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