Similkameen Spotlight, April 15, 2015

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SPOTLIGHT

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The Similkameen

Volume 65 Issue 15

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Coalmont “spiraling out of control”

“I fear that this court case gives a skewed impression of day to day life here. - Ole Juul Andrea DeMeer Spotlight Staff

A provincial court judge fears events in the tiny village of Coalmont “are spiraling out of control.” Charges of uttering threats, criminal harassment and causing people to fear for their safety were laid last week against Karl Gatzke of Coalmont. He was remanded into custody in Princeton court pending a further appearance in Penticton. “I don’t know what’s going on in Coalmont but I’m really concerned about all this,” Judge Gale Sinclair told spectators Friday at the end of two days of testimony in a case of mischief against Marianna Gatzke – Karl Gatzke’s daughter. “Some respected member of the community, or someone, should talk to some people. We now have multiple, multiple charges…I really don’t like it.” At least ten percent of the village – between 10 and fifteen people – crowded into the Princeton court house Thursday and Friday, where Marianna Gatzke, who is acting as her own counsel, examined witnesses including her father. The case was adjourned late Friday morning. While the mischief charges stem from events in

April 2011 and May 2013, much of the testimony centered around subsequent happenings, including an incident where Marianna Gatzke said she was assaulted and suffered a broken orbital bone, as well as an assault on her father’s vehicle before he was arrested last Thursday. The trial began in March 2014, when the prosecution presented witnesses who claimed noise coming from Marianna Gatzke’s power tools and radio, as well as signage and spotlights at her residence, interfered with their enjoyment of their property. In June last year, several people involved in the trial were injured, as well as charged with assault and aggravated assault, after what RCMP Sergeant Barry Kennedy described as a “brawl” involving pitchforks and shovels. Thursday Karl Gatzke was brought into court in handcuffs and testified with a sheriff sitting beside the witness stand. He repeatedly made eye contact with spectators in the room. His examination was often conversational in nature. “You always feel like you have eyes on you, is that right?” Marianna Gatzke asked. “It feels like we continued page 10

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Andrea DeMeer

Karl Gatzke of Coalmont was escorted to Princeton court Thursday and Friday to testify at the mischief trial of his daughter Marianna Gatzke. Karl Gatzke was arrested last week on numerous charges including criminal harassment and uttering threats.

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