Kids club Program targeting at-risk youth receives financial boost. Page 7 Race returns Black Press Van Isle 360 wraps up in Nanaimo harbour. Page 19 Curtain call Nanaimo Theatre Group re-stages award-winning play. Page 3
T-men win tough game Page 26
Celebrating
1988
2013
Years
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TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013
VOL. 25, NO. 24
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Defence claims gun wrestled from victim
I
SIMON PHILLIP Dockerill takes the stand in his own defence during B.C. Supreme Court trial.
By Jenn M c gaRRigle ThE NEwS BULLETiN
A man facing a weapons charge following a deadly shootout on Wilgress Road in May 2010 testified in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo last week that he did not bring a gun to the incident. Simon Phillip Dockerill, charged with possession of a restricted firearm, was initially also charged with murder following the late afternoon incident, which killed John Charles Borden, 47, and injured Dockerill and another man. But following developments in the police investigation, which satisfied the Crown that the deceased initiated the exchange of gunfire that led to his death and Dockerill responded with an act of self-defence, Crown counsel requested last July that the murder charge be dropped. Dockerill’s trial on the remaining gun charge began June 10,
and on Thursday and Friday, he took the stand. Dockerill, 34, testified that he met Borden in 2009 when he wanted to rent a unit in the building Borden was living in on Wilgress Road, for use as a tanning salon. He said he gave Borden, who he understood to be the property manager, money for rent and other things and also lent him money for his personal use, but never occupied the unit. Dockerill testified that Borden had a gun out when he visited him with a friend in April 2009; seven or eight months before the May 25, 2010 gunfight, Borden produced a knife and threatened him. Then the only contact he had with Borden was close to the shooting, when he phoned Borden and asked if Borden was going to pay him back, he said. u See ‘TRIAL’ /4
CHRIS BUSH/THe NewS BUlleTIN
Countdown
Quinn Battie, zip line guide, back, and George Shaw, a guest at Wild Play, apparently hold differing views of the task at hand as they wait for a short countdown for Battie to launch Shaw across Nanaimo River Canyon. Shaw, 76, was among the eldest of a group of about a dozen seniors from General George R. Pearkes Senior Citizens’ Housing Society who braved dangling above the river and rocks Thursday.
Trade mission to Calgary cancelled due to flooding By ToBy goRMan ThE NEwS BULLETiN
WestJet’s inaugural flight from Nanaimo to Calgary went as scheduled Monday, but severe flooding in Calgary put a damper on a trade mission that was supposed to have symbolized new economic opportunities between the cities prompted by the direct link.
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A delegation of about 30 mid-Island politicians, economic development officials and local business owners were originally booked to travel to Calgary as part of Team Nanaimo to meet with officials there to forge new economic relationships. Instead, three people from the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation made the trip as a goodwill gesture. Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan, who
was scheduled to participate as well, said it didn’t make sense to pursue the mission because of the massive cleanup underway in Calgary. “It is disappointing, a lot of work went into it, but what can you do?” said Ruttan. “The people who are going are going to just touch base with WestJet and assure them we’re happy with the new service.” u See ‘FIRST’ /4
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