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Red Deer Advocate WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 2016
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Crime stats paint mixed picture
THE UGLY DUCKLING
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MARK LINDSAY TRIAL
Psychiatrist supports schizophrenia diagnosis BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF
BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Theft under $5,000, vehicle theft and other property crimes continue to rise in Red Deer. Police released the 2015 crime statistics on Tuesday indicating there were 13,814 property crimes in 2015, compared to 13,040 in 2014. The biggest jump was in theft under $5,000 with 5,430 reported crimes compared to 4,915 in 2014. There was a slight decrease in break-and-enter crimes to 1,120 from 1,124, and a larger drop in fraud crimes to 969 from 1,092. RCMP Supt. Scott Tod said there was a considerable increase in total property crimes 2014 (13,040) from 2013 (11,129) but a marginal increase over the last two years. “I think it is a positive sign,” said Tod. “You have to take into account the community is growing. Each year we get more people moving into the city. Break and enters are a little bit lower than they were last year. So there are some good news areas in the property crime and I like to attribute through our work through the task force.” But the statistics also show a decrease in total persons crimes such as robbery, assault and kidnapping to 2,816 compared to 3,018 in 2014. The biggest drop was in criminal harassment to 193 from 363 in 2014. “This is the lowest it’s been in four years,” said Tod. “That’s a good sign. I’d like to think through our targeting prolific offenders and monitoring high risk domestic offenders, we’ve had some role in that. We can’t take credit for it because it has been on a downward trend.”
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Connor McKee, left, plays the Cat while Carson Rafuse takes on the part of Ugly as the two, along with other cast and production members, rehearse their parts in the Cornerstone Youth Theatre production of ‘HONK!.’ The take on the Hans Christian Andersen’s story of ‘The Ugly Duckling’ features 58 of Central Alberta’s talented young performers and is sure to delight audiences of all ages. The show begins its run at New Life Fellowship at 20 Kelloway Close in Red Deer this Friday. For tickets to the show and information about show times and dates, visit www.CornerstoneYouthTheatre.org, or call the box office at 403-986-2981.
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A second mental-health professional offered a similar schizophrenic diagnosis of Mark Damien Lindsay, who is accused of murdering an Edmonton mother. Dr. Marcel Hediger, a B.C.-based forensic psychiatrist, testified for the defence on Tuesday in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench. Lindsay, 29, is accused of the August 2011 killing of Dana Turner, 31. He is charged with second-degree murder. Hediger observed Lindsay for more than two months between August and October 2012. At the time Lindsay was detained on the murder charge. He was charged with the murder in March 2012 and had been in custody. Hediger’s two-pronged diagnosis of Lindsay was that he was schizophrenic and had a substance abuse problem that could be linked to psychosis. At the time, Lindsay was so far removed from having access to illicit drugs, Hediger concluded. Therefore his psychosis during his assessment with Hediger was caused by his schizophrenia. Hediger said Lindsay had been “pretty much” substance free for close to a year. Hediger pointed to Lindsay’s hallucinations and delusions as some of the foundation that led him to the diagnosis. Defence counsels Kent Teskey and Curtis Steeves have contended Lindsay should not be held criminally responsible due to psychosis and a paranoid belief that a group of serial killers called Healers were out to kill him. In his police statement, Lindsay said he thought Turner was a Healer sent to kill him specifically. Lindsay has admitted to committing the murder, but the trial revolves around whether or not Lindsay was criminally responsible at the time. Crown Prosecutors Bina Border and Ed Ring believe the psychosis was drug induced and would then not qualify for a not criminally responsible defence. Defence closed their case after Hediger’s testimony.
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Prominent Red Deerians to conduct fundraising for wildlife centre BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Animal lovers Lynne Mulder and Morris Flewwelling are coming to the rescue of the Medicine River Wildlife Centre. The two prominent Red Deerians are stepping up to take the lead to raise $400,000 to finish the construction of the new hospital. Another $125,000 is expected to come through a provincial grant.
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cacy, has two dogs, seven cats and 40 fish. “My passion is animals,” said Mulder. “I have a huge interest. I think (caring for the wildlife) is a big need in the community. And it’s not one people will rise up and say, ‘yes I am going to help.’ Most people do not think about wildlife that much.” Mulder said she heard some of the Medicine River Wildlife Centre stories and animals that were saved, which “just brings tears to your eyes.”
Mulder said the duo will form a small cabinet to tackle the task at hand. She said they will likely be targeting particular donors in the Central Alberta region including the County of Red Deer and Central Alberta municipalities. “My feeling is somebody has to do it,” said Mulder. “I am really happy Carol Kelly has stepped up to the plate and I would like to help her if I can.”
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Nine stabbed at high school Students described a chaotic scene after a female classmate ran down the hallways knifing people, injuring nine.
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Red Deer HOME SHOW
2016
MARCH 4, 5, 6, 2016 WESTERNER PARK For more information call 1.403.346.5321 or visit www.RedDeerHomeShow.ca
Show Hours: Friday: 12pm - 8pm| Saturday: 10am - 6pm Sunday: 10am - 5pm Admission: Adult $10 | Student $8 (w/valid ID) Seniors $8 (+55) | Under 12 Free (w/adult)
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Carol Kelly, executive director, has been juggling the fundraising and running the centre for years. Kelly said she reached out to the two supporters because she cannot do it all. “It’s a huge relief to me because I wake up in the morning with a nervous stomach thinking about how I am going to do this all by myself,” said Kelly. Mulder said her passion is animals and she jumped on board to help the worthy cause. Mulder, who is wellknown for her domestic animal advo-