4~- North Shore News - Wednesday, October 11, 2000

eapons charges nett

would be the usual penalty |

Anna Marie D'Angelo

News Reporter
adangelotnsnews.cons

A North Vancouver
provincial court judge
said a fine was “just
barely appropriate” for
aman who had an
arsenal of loaded guns
in his West Vancouver
condo last December.

Jusige Conni Bagnall still
went ahead and issued fines
against Niki Markovina: $750
on cach of tiree gun-related
charges. The 58-year-old man
pleaded guilty to the charges.

“Your community sees a
foaded nandgun under your
Mattress as extremely sinister,
that’s why its illegal,” said
Bagnall. “You must have been
expecting a great deal of
trouble...”

-: The judge added,
“Normally I would only con-
sider incarceration.”

But she agreed to fines
recommended by the prose-
cating Crown lawyer Linda
Ostry..

The -judge considered
information presented in
court that Markovina was not

Judge says

often in the country when she
accepted the fine recominett-
dation.

Markovina pleaded guilty
ta
@ possessing a loaded prohib-
ited Smith and Wesson 44
Magnum,

@ possessing a prohibited
weapon, a butterfly knife;

3 carelessly storing a Sig
Arms 9 mm semi-sutematic
pistol.

Markovina was originally
charged with 15 gun-related
offences in connection with a
search of his home in’ the
2000-block of Argyle Avenue
on Dec. 2, 1999,

Twelve charges — were
dropped (stayed). Those
dropped charges included
possessing and carelessly stor-
ing an unregistered .44
Magnum, improperly storing
non-restricted firearms, pos-
sessing a prohibited switch-
blade, flick knife, and an ivory
handled switchblade along
with sa. unregistered loaded
Beretta .380.

Vancouver City Police
were investigating an extor-

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tion case in which Markovina
was interviewed as a possible
victim. Information from that
investigation — led = Wet
Vancouver Police to seek a
search warrant of
Markovina’s condo.

Prosceuting Crown lawyer
Ostry said that 16 firearms
were found at the Argyle
Avenucg home The foaded,
unregistered Magnum: was
under the mattress ia che
master bedroom. Other guns
were in unlocked drawers.
There were also many bullets
found. The buttertly knite
was found in an unlocked
desk drawer.

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In the underground park-
ing stall, owe unregistered
guns, one of which was pro-
hibited, was found in a fabric
tote bag in Markovina’s vehi-
tle.

Detenee Jawyer Brian
Coleman said Markovina was

“serious gun collector” who
traded and sold firearms at
gun shows, He said the ivory
handled switchblade | was
“considered by some to be
artistic.”

“There is nothing sinister
about them (the guas),” said
Coleman.

The defence lawyer said
his client had “suffered some

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adverse publicity” because
coverage of the guns” seizure
was on “page one of the local
paper.”

He estintated the value of
the weapons as being greater
than $100,009.

Coleman said his client
was) born in former
Yugoslavia (now Croatia.) He
came to Canada in 1964. He
has :wo grown children from
a second marriage.

Coleman blamed “adverse
publicity” regarding
Markovina’s guns for causing
him to “pursue business ven-
tures in Europe” and the “off
shore import exports of cig-

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Coleman said his client
will leave the country on Oct.
TL. A 10-year gun prohibi-
tion in Canada automatically
applies with the conviction.

Markovina’s criminal
record included a | 1994
assault. He has been conviet-
ed of mischief since then.

Markovina, with greying
dark curly hair and glasses,
appeared” attentive — and
unphased by the court pro-
ceedings. He was fined on
Sept. 27.

Another person, Angela
May Noir, is charged with
three gun charges in connec-
tion with the same incident.
She has a court appearance
scheduled for Oct. 18. in
North Vancouver.

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