THURSDAY March 26, 2015 • www.langleytimes.com
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NEWS 25 Years in Bloom
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BUSINESS A Driving Force
SPORTS Gademans Shines Shiin ne es on on Stage Sta tage
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Friend speaks out in support of accused arsonist
A Penny Pinched ...
FORMER NHL TOUGH GUY, STEPHEN PEAT, ‘HAS A HEART OF GOLD,’ SAYS HOWIE ZARON MONIQUE TAMMINGA Times Reporter
DAN FERGUSON Langley Times
Marilyn Drebert (left) and Barb Moffatt check out the bargains at the Penny Pincher thrift store. The non-profit store recently relocated to the one-way in Langley City.
A good friend of former NHL tough guy Stephen Peat is speaking out on behalf of his long-time buddy who is charged with torching the Peat family home in Brookswood last week. “Stephen just really wanted to say that there are allegations and there are truths,” said Howie Zaron. Zaron said Peat has the strong support of his real friends and his family, including his dad. “Stephen and his dad are tight and his brother is supporting him too,” Zaron told The Times. “Peaty has a heart of gold,” said Zaron. He wants to support Peat in whatever path he needs to go in the next while. Peat, 35, had been in jail since his arrest on March 19, but posted $1,000 bail on Monday. His next scheduled appearance is April 25 in Surrey Provincial Court. Continued Page 5
Three years for crash that killed father of two CHILLIWACK MAN, 30, PLEADED GUILTY IN 2012 DEATH OF DELTA’S VICTOR DUARTE ON 16 AVE. MONIQUE TAMMINGA Times Reporter
VICTOR DUARTE
A 30-year-old Chilliwack man has been sentenced to three years in jail and given a nine-year driving ban in connection with a police-involved crash that killed a 47-yearold Delta man on 16 Avenue in Langley in 2012. Devon Laslop was sentenced on Thursday in Surrey Provincial Court. For pleading guilty to flight causing death, Laslop was also given a three-year driving ban under the Criminal Code. He was also sen-
tenced for driving while prohibited on that fateful day. For that, a provincial judge sentenced him to a further six months in jail and a six year driving ban under the Motor Vehicle Act as well as a $1,000 fine. Laslop was originally charged with flight causing death and dangerous driving causing death as well as driving while prohibited. At a preliminary inquiry held last October in Surrey Provincial Court, Laslop pleaded guilty of the one charge of flight causing death. Laslop fled a police road check
and then crashed into two vehicles at an intersection at 16 Avenue and 240 Street around 5:30 p.m., on Oct. 29, 2012. He was prohibited from driving at the time. Victor Melo Duarte, a father of two and husband, was killed instantly when Laslop, driving a pickup truck, hit another vehicle, which in turn hit Duarte’s vehicle. Because police did pursue the fleeing vehicle for a short distance, the Independent Investigation Office was called in to investigate whether the Langley RCMP’s action contributed to the fatal crash.
Two police vehicles pursued the truck, with emergency lights on, travelling more than 100 km/hr on a 60 km/hr road. But according to the IIO report, the lead vehicle discontinued the pursuit in 36 seconds. The officer decided to pull over and turn off the lights instead, judging the pursuit as fruitless. Less than three minutes later, the collision took place, leaving Duarte dead and Laslop seriously injured, said the IIO report. This was the first investigation in Langley conducted by the IIO.