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NEW CNC CAMPUS P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 6
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HOOTERVILLE HOOT P. 7 EQUIFAIR P. 8-10
E xpress OMINECA
Publications Mail Contract # 40007840
$1.30 Inc. GST Vol. 36 No. 15
Serving Vanderhoof ● Fort Fraser ● Fraser Lake & Area www.ominecaexpress.com
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Child seriously injured in vehicle accident Sam Redding Omineca Express A 4-year-old boy in Vanderhoof was injured in a crash with a vehicle while riding his bike down 4th Street East and Riley Avenue. The accident occurred at about 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon in the school zone near Evelyn Dickson elementary school. The 22-year-old male was driving west when the boy
appeared from the south and failed to stop at the stop sign while coming down the hill. The boy suffered serious injuries to his face and head and was taken to St. John Hospital and then taken to University Hospital of Northern BC. His older brother, age nine, stopped by the RCMP detachment to thank the officers for their quick response and to inform them that his brother was released from hospital with a few stitches. Several witnesses came forward immediately to help the
boy, placing towels under his head around a pool of blood. The mother was close by to assist him as well. “Its really important for people, especially children, to be wearing their helmets,” said RCMP Sgt. Jason Keays. The areas of the child that were struck when he received the injuries would have been covered had he been wearing a helmet added one RCMP officer. Although it may not have prevented the injury it certainly would have lessened it. Neither speed nor alcohol were deemed a factor and the driver is not being charged with anything at this time.
Knelsen pleads guilty to second degree murder
Future barrel racer
A young Gymkhana racer takes her horse through the track at the Equifair on Sunday. The horse made sure to keep the pace extra gentle for the young lady. Photo by Sam Redding
Former Vanderhoof resident, Joseph Knelsen, has pleaded guilty to charge of second-degree murder as of Monday, June 3. Knelsen was charged with the first-degree murder of Gordon Berg of Langford, B.C. According to the Times Colonist, Crown prosecutor Tamara Hodge described the night of the murder in “chilling” detail to a jury on May 27. Gordon Berg and his girlfriend, Laura Carey, were in the bedroom when a masked man burst through the window spraying bear mace. Carey fled upstairs and hid with the homeowner, Shannon Henson, in the upper suite, believing Berg to be right behind her. Carey and Henson hid in the locked bedroom while the assailant hammered on it. “They see a hammer coming through that door,” said Hodge in court. “Shannon opens the door to a man whose face is obscured. He is holding a hammer and he is covered in blood. The man grabs her by
the throat. That’s when Shannon and Laura recognize the accused.” The 53-year-old Gordon Berg was found dead in the downstairs kitchen, reports the Times Colonist. He had been hit at least 10 times in the head and stabbed five times. On May 28, evidence and photographs were shown to the jury by RCMP forensic identification officer Sgt. Nav Hothi who spent two days examining the crime scene. The jury was shown evidence ranging from the battered and bloody doors to the screwdriver, hammer, knives, Vise-Grips, and homemade mask in court on Tuesday. They were also shown pictures of blood on the foyer, on the bannister and the stairs. After the bail hearing in May 2011, Knelsen was released on a $100,000 surety bail and moved back to Vanderhoof to live with his mother. He was not allowed to leave without a family member unless he was going to work. Nor was he allowed to consume alcohol or leave the province.
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