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‘Swashbuckling

duel’ over bush

A NORTH Vancouver landlord
who stabbed a tenant in the chest
with a fencing foil last year has
been acquitted .of aggravated
assault.

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By Anna Marie D'Angelo
News Reporter

David John Mathieson, 56, was charged
after an altercation with his basement-suite
tenant on Apri! 29, 1994, in the 2200-block
of Mahon Avenue.

The tenant, John Desarmenien, then 42,
was pierced in the chest by the fencing foil.
Desarmenien had his lung punctured in the
incident, according to a May 4, 1994, News
story.

“T have found the accused not guilty, but
that is not to say that | approve of his
actions, nor do I approve of the actions of
Desarmenien,” Mr. Justice J.T. Edwards
said Apri} 12 in B.C. Supreme Court.

“Both were apparently intent on engag-
ing in some swashbuckling duel with real
weapons and a real risk of harm which in
fact did occur,” said Justice Edwards.

Mathieson was acquitted because the
court found that he had acted in self-
defence.

The judge said he accepted Mathieson’s
version of events that night and acquitted

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

DAVID MATHIESON, clad in a paper suit he says the police gave him to wear in North

Vancouver court, claims he has been foiled by local RCMP and the justice system. See Dispute page 5

it

“She was certain about the

_ B Pondering The End
on Lonsdale: 19

BA light change to
’ heavy desserts: 20

the same action), I

sports

@ Pondering the end
in Montreai: 12

WV Devils play
... Cinderella role: 12

§ Sizzler;
1 guy $10.98
i 983-3040 3

Sentencing set for June

A NORTH Vancouver high
schoo! teacher has been
found guilty of sexually
assaulting a siudent while
on a school outing two and
a half years ago.

By Anna Marie D'Angelo

News Reporter

Daryl Wayne Samson, 42, a
former Whitecaps soccer player,
walked out of a hushed North
Vancouver courtroom on Monday

after the verdict was read,

He. will be sentenced next
month.

The courtroom was predomi-

nantly filled with
the suspended
teacher’s family and
supporters.
Moments cartier.
Judge Bill Rodgers
said he would have
convicted Samson
on the other two sex
charges against him
as swell. Those
charges were sexual
touching of a young
person while the
accused was in a
position of trust.
“But for the rule against mul-
uple convictions (which prevents
a person from being convicted on
more than one charge relating to

dent.

DARYL SAMSON ...
guilty of sexually
assaulting a stu-

would have convict-
ed Mr. Samson with
respect. to both
(counts),” said
Rodgers.

Samson had been
suspended with pay
from his Sutherland
secondary — school
job shortly after he

was charged in con-'

nection with the
Nov. $9, £993, inci-
dents.

Rodgers described
the victim of the
sexual assault, who
was 17 at the time, as an inarticu-
Jace witness who used teenage
slang to the point that she was dif-
ficuJt to understand.

main points of her complaints
and | accept her evidence,” said
Rodgers.

The girl testified that Samson
had touched her breasts under her
T-shirt and over her bra; rubbed
her stomach; and had taken her
hand and placed it on his penis.

The sexual incident occurred
in a hotel room outside the Lower
Mainland in the early morning
hours.

Samson, the girl, another 17-
year-old) female student and
another man had reclined on a
bed to sleep.

The two girls cannot be named
by court order.

Yestimony in court revealed

See School page 3