Anna Marie D'Angelo

News Reporter
dangelo@nsnews.com

A West Vancouver
woman who has been
receiving medical treat-
ment for mental rob-
Jems for more than 20
years recently cried out
im court that “I have
never done anything
wrong in my life.”

Patricia Margarct Grohne,
63, was in North Vancouver
provincia! court on Oct. 20 to
face an impaired driving
charge.

Crown lawyer Andrew
Baldwin said thar the charge
was reduced to a Motor
Vehicle Act offence of driving
without due care and atren-
tion.

An upset Grohne burst out,
“T have a million images all the
time in my brain. 7 can’t
choose. I’m an artist.”

She then began crying
Joudly and groaning. Grohne

“. said she couldn't hear.

“ : Judge Jerome Paradis told
! Grohne thar she needed to deal

with the charge despite how
difficule it may be.

Grohne cried. “I want it
over. I don’t remember, Pve
never done anything wrong in
my life.”

Grohne was calmed down
by a man who had accompa-
nied her to court. He didn’t
identify himseif. Grohne had
no lawyer.

Baldwin said thar on July
28, a motorist had seen a large
Mercedes with a dog in the
back on Welch Street | near the
Squamish Nation. The car
belonged to Grobne.

The witness said he saw the
Mercedes weaving. The car’s
fender hit bushes and then
moved over the centre line.
The car almost went off the
road on two occasions.

At the four-way stop on
Capilano Road, the Mercedes
did not stop, but accelerated
through the © intersection.
Baldwin said mororists had to
take “evasive action” t9 avoid a
erash.. Near Park Royal
Shopping’ . Centre, the
Mercedes went into the on-
coming lane and almost had a
head-on crash.

Grohne’s blood alcohol

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reading was .O8 and .09 (08 is
the legal limit), said Baldwin,

“How oo much?" yelled
Grohne, terrupting the
Crown kawver.

Judge Paradis repeated the
readings.

Baldwin said thar he had
discussed the situation with
Grohne’s son, Reif) Grohne’s
son stated that his mother was
taking new medication and
“did not appreciate” mixing
alcohol and the drugs.

Baldwin reterred to a doc-
tor’s letter indicating thar

Grohne way prescribed an
“anti-psychotic and strong
sedative” along with — her
“maintenance” doses of anti-
depressant and a benzadi-
IZEPivecs (valium-type) medica-
tions.

Baldwin said a short rime
after the incident Grohne was
admitted to Lions Gate
Hospital with severe anxiety
and depression that was a reac-
tion to the medication.

Paradis asked Grohne what
her doctor wold her abour the
medication.

“Nothing,” said Grohne.

She said the piil bortle also
had no warnings.

Grohe had 4 clean driving
record except. for a 24-1 -hour
suspension in 1995 and anoth-
er 24-hour suspension: since
her impaired charge.

Paradis said that he coukin’t
except Grohne’s plea and must
strike it because it appeared she
had a defence to the charge.

“No!” ans anguished
Grohne yelled.

Paradis then said he would

nor strike the plea because of

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the potential stress more court
oroceedings would have ov the
accused woman.
‘The Crown lawyer asked for
a S00 fine and a owo-vear dri-
ver’s licence suspension.
Paradis said the Crown was
asking tor the same sentence as
an impaired driver conviction.
A erving Grehne said, “)
never want to drive again... P'm
not going back on heavy med-
ication. don’t want pills.”
Paradis fined her $200 and
suspended her licence for 12
months,