Health Care Tackling the root cause of obesity. p6
Food bank could use yuletide help. p14
THE NEWS
Gardening The legend of the Christmas rose. p39
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Driver charged in fatal crash Impaired driving one of three against Christine Marchand by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s staff reporter
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Helping hands Miranda Tymoschuk (Centre), along with Jenna Crews, her sister Megan, and Leah Bedford put icing on sour cream cookies as they prepare for a Christmas bake sale this Saturday in Haney Place Mall to raise money for Miranda to go to Ghana. See story p10.
A woman suspected of driving drunk has been charged in connection with a crash that killed a Maple Ridge father earlier this year. Christine Anne Marchand made a first appearance in Port Coquitlam Provincial Court Wednesday on three criminal charges related to the fatal accident. She faces one count each of impaired driving causing death, causing an accident resulting in death, and dangerous driving causing death. “This has been a very complex investigation where Ridge Meadows RCMP Traffic Service and Serious Crimes Unit have worked together to prepare a report to Crown Counsel,” said Sgt. Dale Somerville. See Charges, p5
Man to get 3-5 years for rape Russell John Hobson began relationship with babysitter when she was 14 by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s staff reporter
A Maple Ridge man who sexually assaulted a young girl who babysat for his family will spend between three and five years in prison, but won’t be sentenced until next year. A sentencing hearing for Russell John Hobson came to a halt
Wednesday after his lawyer asked the judge to consider his aboriginal heritage. Hobson’s father was Cree and Mi’kmaw. The 46-year-old, however, has no “significant” connection to his heritage, his lawyer, Lionel Farmer, told the Port Coquitlam Provincial Court. “There is something that’s not in the pre-sentence report, that is Mr. Hobson is First Nations,” said Farmer, adding he did not think a Gladue report was necessary. “The only consideration, I ask, is for you take into account.” But since Farmer pointed to his
client’s First Nations background, provincial court judge Marion Buller Bennett was forced to stop the hearing and request a Gladue report, a right that aboriginal people have under section 718.2 (e) of the Criminal Code. Farmer replied that Hobson has no significant connection with his heritage so a Gladue report would not add much in terms of options when it came to sentencing. Judge Buller Bennett, however, explained she had no choice. “The Supreme Court of Canada has made it really clear that for aboriginal offenders judges must have certain information, other-
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wise I don’t know what the considerations are for sentencing,” she replied. A heavy-set man with closely cropped hair and dark circles under his eyes, Hobson has been in custody since he was arrested in May following an investigation by Ridge Meadows RCMP that lasted more than a year. He was charged with sexual interference, sexual exploitation, sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon, but entered a guilty plea on the first day of his trial in October to one count of sexual interference, or touching.
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Health: Doctors leaving it to dispensaries. See story, p3
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