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August 5, 198% News 985-2131

assified O86-6222 Distriburian OS

23

Grieving mom feels
system let her down

THE BEREAVED Nova Scotian mother of a woman killed
in North Vancouver in May by a hit-and-run driver charges
her family has been ill-served by the judicial system.

Shirley Roger’s daughter, An-
drea Joy Rogers, 26, was killed
just before 11:50 p.m. May 25
while returning to her Chamberlain
Drive home from a job working
with the mentally handicapped at
Lynn Valley House.

She was found fying in’ the
1300-block of Doran Road. Rogers
had suffered massive head injuries
and died at Lions Gate Hospital
412 hours after the accident.

Police recovered a car, believed
to have been the vehicle which

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“Once the law knew that
the kid would be pleading
guilty, the police stopped
investivating the cause. A
lot of people just weren't
interviewed, "”

— Shirley Rogers

struck Rogers, the following day.
The car was owned by a 17-year-
old North Vancouver youth, The
youth had reported the car stolen
earlier Uhat day.

The youth pleaded guilty in June
to charges of failing to stop at the
scene of an accident and public
mischief. Sentencing is set for
Sept. 2.

A North Vancouver RCMP
spokesinan said the youth claimed
he had been resetting his car radio
while driving and admitted to see-
ing Rogers in the distance. The car
allegedly veered into Rogers while
he was setting the radio.

The spokesman said the youth
panicked and left the scene. The
youth came forward the following
day after police had recovered the
car.

In addition to the two charges to
which the young offender pleaded
guilty, initial charges proposed 1o
Crown counsel by police included
charges of dangerous driving caus-
ing death, criminal negligence
causing death, driving without due
care and attention, and operating

By MICH

an improperly-equipped vehicle.

Said Shirley Rogers: “As far as
the law is concerned, he'll get a
stap on the wrist.

“Once the flaw knew that the hid
would be pleading guilty, the
police stopped investigating the
ease, A Jot of people just weren't
interviewed. A neighbor heard the
car revving up just before my
daughter was struck, We're just
hot happy with the investigation itt
alf.?*

Just as the agcused had the right
to choose his awn Uo repre.
sentation for the case, Rogers
believes her family should have
had the right to choose legal repre-
sentaGon on their behalf rather
than having the Crown appoint
counsel,

“You never realize how lite
help there is for the victim. [ feel
the law is acting im a way lo
destroy the victim. [ would hiave
sold my house if [ could have
found a lawyer who really would
have taken an interest. [really
want to know what happened to
my daughter that night.”

Said) Noreen Provost, coor-
ainator of the North Shore based
Citizens United for Safety and
Justice: “The fact that nothing
was mentioned in’ the charges
about death is absolutely
unbelievable, EP you are old
enough to drive, you should be
held accountable and raised to
adult court.”

Provost said the Crown appoints
counsel because a criminal offence
is considered a crime against socie-
ty. ‘‘The family is considered by
the courts to be a witness.”

The Rogers family has establish-
ed a memorial fund to purchase an
electric wheelchair for a disabled
woman living at Lynn Valley
House.

Donations may be sent to the
Andrea Joy Rogers Memorial
Fund, RR#3 Truro, Nova Scotia,
B2N 5B2.

Dealer
‘PAGES 27-33

NEWS photo Mike Wakelield
JOAN McDONALD tidies up her prize-winning garden for this weekend’s Award-
winning Gardens Tour. Six top North Shore gardens will be open for viewing. North
Shore Garden Contest coordinator Dan Daszkowski makes notes in the background.
For more information on the tour see story page 24.

Concerns raised over
ing field safety: 3.

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