Anna Marie D'Angelo
News Reporter adanyclo@nsnews.com

KONAAM Shirzad is a “salvageable”

criminal who is a “great” risk to soci-

ety, according to a prosecuting Crown
lawyer on Monday.

Crown hwy er Tom burns said the }8-year-
eld North Vancouver resident justitied using
violence and projected the blame onto the vie-
dm. “Ifhe does not change, someone like me in
. the future will stand here and ask a judge to lock
him up and throw away the kev,” said Burns.
Shirzad sat quietly in a B.C. Supreme courtroom
dressed in a navy T-shirt and pants. The T-shirt
had “YCC" depicted, which: stands for Youth
Correction Centre. Shirzad did not look at his
mother and: stepfather when he entered the
courtroom in the afternoon. Shirzad has been in
custody for 17 months, since July 1-4, 1999, the

Court
action
targets
board

From page 1

Supreme Court statement of
claim on Monday questioning
“the legitimacy of the board’s
‘action. .

wo They claim various provi-
sions of the saciety’s policies
and procedures regarding,
‘harassment and discrimina-
tion contravene the Society
Act...
2° They-also claim that the
board had no right to take

. disciplinary action against

© Baldwin. States the claim,
-“The plaintiffs say that there
was no valid or lawful deter-
‘mination. of a factual or legal

‘foundation for the governors”
purport suspension of
‘Baldwin’ $ employment activi-
ties.”

a They have also. served
-notice to the board, calling
for an extraordinary. general
meeting to review the actions
of. the: board and . decide
‘whether or not to remove or
replace one or more of the

: board members.

Miyazaki filed a lawsuit in
‘B.C. Supreme Court on Oct.
17, alleging thar Baldwin se:
ually | harassed her on a busi-

- ness. trip they: made to New
- Zealan in March, 2000.

|" She claimed that Baldwin
“mace “degrading ‘comments

+ about her appearance and her
dress, touched her inappro-
priately, came on to her, and *
“implied her job was at stake if
:she didn’t comply... ©. :

In a statement of defence,
Baldwin has denied. all the

llé gations. He is currently on
leave. of absence from his

Former friend attacked at Park and Tiiford

nizht he stabbed his tormer best fiend twice in
the back after a late movie at Park and Tiltord
theatres. The victim, Dan Duval, then 17, sus-
tained a punctured lung and almost died. The
Crown had called the case a scenario of betrayal
and revenge in which Shirzad needed to save
face and right embarrassment associated with his
failed friendship with Duval. Shirzad was con-
vieted of attempted murder in June. Since his
detention in youth jail, Shiezad has been
involved in two violent incidents, according to
defence lawyer Bill Smart: one, in January, had
Shirzad Ubreatened and provoked a fellow youth
jal detainee. Smart said Shiezad got “womped
pretty good” in the incident. In the second inci-
dent in the summer, Shirzad’s roommate was
challenged by a tellow youth jail detaince while
playing basketball. Shirzad stepped in’ “to
assist,” according to Smarr, Shirzad was 16

when he stabbed Duval. His case was raised to
adult rial, but sentencing remains under the
jurisdiction of the Young Offenders Act. His
maximum sentence could be life with parole eli-
ibility after seven years. Shirzad’s 17 months in
jail is considered to be the equivalent: of 34
mouths of a jail sentence.

Burns did nat ask for a specitic sentence but
said “society needs 2 long string on Keonam.”

Smart asked for 12 smenths in jail with dhree
years? probation,

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Terrance
Warren will sentence Shirzad next week. A jail
sentence coufd be served in a youth, provincial
or tedzral institution. The judge said “with good
fortune and Grace of God” Shirzad was not
looking at a second degree murder or
manslaughter sentence. “Fam not of the view
that incarceration is particularly useful for any-

od

agua we ra,

Going up in nthe world

. CONSTRUCTION work is progressing on the Chapters bookstore that will occupy the site of the former Avaion Hotel on Merine Drive in :
North Vancouver. The Avalon brew pub will also be located on site when the tocation opens this S spring. © 7 - co

Ss mi

Deana Lancaster

News Reporter
dlancaster@nsnews.com .

-“T query “why w we
are planting trees.
that wouid grow
to 80 or 90 feet,”

one,” said Warren, He said soviety’s best interest
would be served if Shirzad was rehabilitated.
Many reports by psychologists and people asso:
ciation with corrections indicated that Shirzad is
bright, has “maladaptive personality features,” is
immature, eLocentric, Over personalized and
rarely sees hisown role in problems. He “plaved
the blame game,” one report noted, Burns said
Shirzad has no reinorse for the stabbing.
“Violence is and remains. an option for
Konaam,” said Burns. Burns said Shirzad did
hot participate in programs or counselling.
When asked by the judge if he had anything
to say, Shirzad shook his head and said “no.”
His mother Katayoun Shirzad then could be
heard speaking in Farsi to her son for about one
minute. Shirzad did not acknowledge her.
Shirzad was on bail on a weapons charge with
conditions not to possess weapons when he
stabbed Duval. At the time Shirzad had left a
foster home and was living with his parents.

‘NEWS photo Mike Wakofietd

nium tree n t wanted

ing North Shore’ Heritage Weekend:

ceremony were invited to bring a teacup .
of soil from their own gardens to add to.

Those who participated in the planting. : oe

osition, which he. has: held

for 15 years.

DeJaray. has a daughter
attending the school. “All this
process has done is’ serve to

~ divide.a wonderful and typi-
éally very united parent body,
so. 1: would like the process
“stopped,” he said on Tuesday.
“It: makes no sense, it pro-
vides :no:: fairness - because
there’s: been’ no - credibility
(given to Baldwin) based on
‘his ‘15 years of stellar perfor-
“mance.”
He. questioned. why. the

board would go ahead with a |

vote to’ terminate the head-\
master before the matter had -
‘reached court.

; ‘WEST Vancouver’s “millenni- :
_um tree” will soon be marking

time somewhere else.

The red oak tree, planted next to the
Ferry Building at 14th and Argyle in
September was meant to commemorate
the past, and help residents look for-
ward to the future. ~

But since the tree would likely grow

to a height of 80 to 90 feet (24 m to 27.
m mn), an possibly spread to 45 feet (13.7 ~

m) across, those living in the Bellevue
Landing’ condominiums . across the .
street from the tree.felt it would block
their view in the future, not enhance it.-

‘At the. Nov. 28 meeting of council, :

Bellevue Jone of resident Stewart
hi

Martin and one of his Pea gave

WEST Vancouver children were among those who.
took part in the millennium tree’s planting ceremony.

“council an overhead presentation which
showed the size the tree could’ poten-
tially grow to.

said © ~- Coun.-
Victor’ Durman :
‘after listening to
the. presentation.

Coun.

Clark agreed and -
said the tree was
lanted in a poor
location, though
there was. some
about:
where a. better.
one could be,
“Perhaps...
should be plant-
ed/at the’ ceme-.
tery where i it wouldn’ t bother anyone "s

§. debate

NEWS file photo Julle tverson |

view,” said Clark.-.’

~The tree’ was planted Sept. 17, dur-

the planting mix, and to compose ‘a
‘ short commemorative © saying, to be.

panying stone bench. *

John “It was avery special day,” said
Coun. Bill Soprovich, who is the coun-:
cil liaison for the heritage advisory com-.

thought for a tong, time about what we

could do.”

» The site was chosen by the voluntee
“committee, ‘ along with « staff,” because.
: they thought it wouldn't disturb anyone. ::
“it. and the tree would be in a prominent

spot for West Van residents to enjo
_. .. However, at. that. meeting; couneil ©

voted to find a new location for the tee
Council has yet to find another Spot
for the w tree.

sand-blasted into the front ofan accom; :

mission. “The , heritage - committee a