Tuesday October 1, 2013 (Vol. 38 8 No. 79) 9))
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
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S O U T H
Undampened spirits: its: The rainy weather didn’t discourage more than 1,000 runnerss from takingg part in the Surrey International ational World ld d Music Marathon, which included a half-marathon and a five-km Mayor’s Run/Walk Walk led by Dianne Watts. i see page 31
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Surrey Six trial begins in B.C. Supreme Court
Five died ‘to ensure no witnesses’ Sheila Reynolds Black Press
Five of six men executed in a Surrey apartment building in 2007 were killed to ensure there were no witnesses to the murder of a sixth man – and intended target – lead Crown prosecutor Mark Levitz alleged on the opening day of trial for three men charged in the Surrey Six murders. The trial of Cody Rae Haevischer, Matthew
Johnston and Quang Vinh Thang (Michael) Le began Monday before a packed courtroom in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. They are charged in connection with the Oct. 19, 2007 mass murder of six men in the Balmoral Tower apartment building in North Surrey. Two of the dead – 22-year-old Christopher Mohan of Surrey and 55-year-old Ed Schellenberg of Abbotsford – were innocent
victims, while the four others, Ryan Bartolomeo, Edward Narong and brothers Corey and Michael Lal, were gang members who were known to police to have ties to the drug trade. Schellenberg, 55, was repairing gas fire places in the building on the day of the murders, and Mohan lived in a neighbouring apartment. Haevischer and Johnston both face six first-
degree murder charges in connection with the deaths of all six victims, while Le has one first-degree murder charge related to Corey Lal’s death. All three face a conspiracy-to-kill charge for Corey Lal’s murder. The three accused pleaded not guilty to all of the charges on Monday. In his opening statement, Levitz said Johnston, Le and Haevischer were all part of the i see page 2
Breach of trust
Planner pleads guilty Kevin Diakiw Black Press
A former City of Surrey planner pleaded guilty last week to a charge relating to missing funds at city hall. Akonyu Akolo – who was fired in 2010 – was criminally charged in 2011 after a police investigation. Akolo pleaded guilty in Surrey Provincial Court Thursday to breach of trust by a public officer. He is to be sentenced Nov. 28. Akolo – who worked for the city for 17 years – was in charge Akonyu Akolo of area planning and development for South Surrey. Jack Saran, president of Forge Properties, was the developer who reported Akolo to the city and the police. In 2010, Saran was working to obtain a development permit for Keystone, a 42-townhouse project at 2925 King George Blvd. In a civil suit filed in April 2010, the City of Surrey claimed Akolo conspired to bilk the city out of development fees. The civil allegations have yet to be heard in court.
Tracy Holmes photo
A collage of Ryan Ashe’s various incarnations – before and after his two decades living on White Rock streets – greeted guests at his service.
Not homeless – White Rock was his home, say street person’s many friends
Remembering the many faces of Ryan Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
The collage of photographs on display at the White Rock Community Centre Friday evening showed a smiling boy, a handsome teenager and a beaming new father. In the mix were five depicting the grufferlooking version of Ryan Ashe that those who call the Semiahmoo Peninsula home – and White Rock, in particular – knew best. Ashe was a familiar presence in White Rock for two decades before his death in August.
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And while there have been those who, over his years of living on the city’s streets, avoided eye contact or even crossed the street to dodge him, the 100-plus who turned out to bid a final goodbye Friday said Ashe taught them about important things in life; among them, to be kind and to not judge a book by its cover. “He teach me lots of things,” said Chizue Lister, who got to know Ashe through his regular visits to her Yucca Tree Café for coffee. “Life is simple, life is wonderful.”
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Lister described Ashe as someone who was always smiling, with “a very pure heart.” “Lots of people think, poor Ryan. He was happy, honest, proud gentleman,” she said. Ashe’s sister, Orphee Martin, spoke of the brother with whom she once shared a close relationship. Ashe was quite good-looking and popular in his teen years, she said. He held a real estate licence for a time and used to babysit Martin’s young sons, even taking them on work calls with him. i see page 4
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