A LOCAL MLA says North Vancouver provincial court Judge Bill Rodgers was dis- playing “outrageous behav- ior’ when he complained on Monday about a provincial government decision to kill a salary increase for provincial court judges and left six crim- inal cases for the next judge to hear. By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter “You've got witnesses, you’ve got lawyers, you’ve got all kinds of people whose time is lost to what amounts to a wildcat strike by the judge,” said North Vancouver- Lonsdale MLA David Schreck. In court, Crown lawyer Dolfi Havlovic was’ set to deal with a young offender’s case when Judge Rodgers read out a news release to her from Chief Judge Robert Metzger. The chief judge talked about the independence of the judiciary and an independent committee’s unanimous recommendation for judges’ salary increases. Rodgers quoted Metzger as saying province-appointed judges should make 90% of what federal- ly appointed judges in the B.C. Supreme Court make, . “The news release issued by " Finance Minister (Elizabeth) Cull calls into question the indepen- dence of this judiciary,’ Rodgers said in court. “Tl wish to know from the attor- ney general. whether or not the independence of this bench is rec- ognized and respected by the attor- ney general, ” he added. The provincial . government turned down an 11.48% salary “. increase over .three years for provincial court judges last week. The wage hike was recom- mended by an independent judicial campensation review committee, _ Cull said the provincial govern- ment was committed to cutting the cost of government and the recom- mended increases were not justi- fied. according to the Finance Ministry. provincial court judges make an annual base salary of $118,000. The judges haven"( had a raise since January 1992 when they received a 9.5% pay hike. Schreck said that on Monday the motion denying the judges’ pay increase passed unanimously in the legislature. The MLA said Rodgers should be disciplined for his actions by a judicial body. “The government: hus no authority to discipline a judge,” said Schreck. Meanwhile, Judge Doug Moss dealt with the six leftover criminal cases during Monday's afternoon session, No trials had been scheduled on Monday morning and most of the cases did not require much of the court’s time. according tu a provincial court official. Rodgers was working in West Vancouver provincial court on Monday afternoon where he dealt with criminal cases, according to a court official. Meanwhile Rodgers said he was “content to hear representa- tives of the attorney general” by Wednesday morning concerning the independence of the judiciary. Metzger hus sent a transcript of Rodgers’ remarks to Ernie Quantz. acting-deputy ‘attorney general with the “intent” to have the attor- ney general reply. Rodgers was a North Vancouver District councillor before being appointed to the position of provincial court judge. Wednesday, June 14, 1995 ~ North Shore News - 3 Photo Alan Matwish THE SPIRIT of Vancouver ran aground Sunday afternoon between Erwin Point and the Grebe Islets, just west of Lighthouse Park. Three crew members and 18 passengers were removed before the 22-metre (73-foot) vessel was towed to West Vancouver. Father-in-law faces charge THE SECOND-degree mur- der trial of West Vancouver businessman Abdur Khan is expected to open Thursday in B.C. Supreme Court. By Brent Mudry Contributing Writer Khan, 54, is charged with killing his daughter-in-law less than six months after she arrived in Canada from her native India. Naazish Khan was found dead in the trunk of a parked car in a Coquitlam neighborhood on Dec. Ht, 1993, hoto wins CCNA honor Rashid | Naazish, 23, was reported miss- ing from the family’s British Properties home one day earlier. The bride left behind a three- month-old baby. The worst fears of her husband Faisal, 23, were confirmed by the grisly discovery of her body. His father, Abdur Khan, soon emerged as a prime suspect in the case. His mother, Rashida, will stand trial separately in September. & Abdur Khan's pre-trial started Monday after jury selection. Crown and defence lawyers are spending several days arguing var- ious evidence motions in a voir dire, absence of the jury. Crown prosecutor Allan Flanz notes it is difficult to estimate the trial's duration at this point. Mr. Justice Kenneth Lysyk is expected to call the jury Thursday, barring any further delays. which takes place. in the’ 1 ABDUR KHAN faces murder charge in 8.C. Supreme Court. NORTH SHORE News photogra- pher Brad Ledwidge has won first- place in the best sports photo catego- ry. of the Canadian Community Newspaper. Association’s annual journalism competition. ae Ngee t Oro, . RASHIDA K Hi AN stands 5 trial in The winning September. - photograph is of an “over 40s” -rugby game at Kiahanie Park last fal). a “There | are lite capsules of events happen- ing at once in the photo-" graph.” said Ledwidge about the appeal of the photo. Ledwidge, 36, has worked for the News for the past 3% years. He said this is the first contest he has entered. BEA hehe LEDWIDGE WINS, NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER Brad Ledwidge snapped this wild local rugby action and in the process scooped up a top prize in a national rewspaper competition. 7 ; ‘NAAZISH KHAN was found dead in the trunk of a car in Coquitlam afier she was FAISAL KHAN was newly mar- reported missing in West Van. : ried to victim.’ _ RaeyEReNRE eT an