Tuesday September 23 2014
The
Leader
▲ They’re on the road again: Annual Cops for Cancer tours now underway 19
RASODE: IT’S OFFICIAL
ADULT MALE ARRESTED IN KILLING OF 17-YEAR-OLD
▶ MAN, KNOWN TO POLICE, HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF SERENA VERSMEESCH KEVIN DIAKIW
▶ COUNCILLOR JOINS LINDA HEPNER, DOUG MCCALLUM AND VIKRAM BAJWA IN BATTLE FOR THE MAYOR’S CHAIR 3 Surrey Coun. Barinder Rasode officially declared her intent to run for mayor at a colourful event at SFU’s Surrey campus on Saturday afternoon. BOAZ JOSEPH
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has announced that an arrest has been made in connection to the murder of 17-year-old Serena Vermeersch. At a press conference in Surrey on Monday, IHIT Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pound confirmed that an adult male who is known to police has been charged with second-degree murder. He cannot be named due to a publication ban. “IHIT will not be releasing the identity of the accused at this time,” Pound said. Last week police issued a public warning after the random killing of Vermeersch. She was last seen boarding a bus at about 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15 near 64 Avenue and 128 Street. She got off the bus at 64 Avenue and 144 Street, walked towards her home, straight up 144 Street, then east along the north side of the train tracks towards 66 Avenue. Her body was found 23 hours later on the other side of the tracks in an area densely covered in brambles south of 66 Avenue. Her death was quickly determined to be a homicide, Serena Vermeersch likely a crime of opportunity. Pound said it was out of character for Vermeersch to not show up at home or contact her parents, which is why a missing persons alert went out right away last Monday. “The concern of her family was immediate when she didn’t return phone calls,” Pound told a press gathering at Surrey RCMP headquarters Thursday. Surrey Chief Supt. Bill Fordy then warned the public to be mindful as they go about their daily activities. He also said the senseless crime makes him angry. continued on page 4
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