4AnNa
tie Pe

48 pages

VALUE COUPONS
Stripped coupons great
way to achieve growth
without risk in RRSPs.

Display Advertising 980-051

—a

NEWS photo Terry Peters

THIS TRUCK was attempting to deliver lumber on Dollarton Road just south of
Mount Seymour Parkway Thursday when it rolled over the curb. Two tow trucks

set it right.

Defence argues patients imagined molestation

The lawyer said the bulk of frani’s patients
were four to 12 years old, so, the lawyer stated,
the dentist would not be attracted to them.

ALMOST TWO dozen female patients
merely imagined they were sexually
molested by a North Vancouver pediatric
dentist, a BC Supreme Court jury was told
Thursday.

By Brent Mudry
Contributing Writer
SasRAnRIEI SIRI nRA SU SEEEO UIE DUOEnDE EERE UENO
The alleged victims were partially sedated on
nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.
Richard Peck, one of three lawyers defending
Dr. Adi Boman frani, reminded the jury that the
presumption of innocence is an essential part af
the legal system, and they must clear all doubts
from their minds if they are to convict the den-
ust. ;
“Much of whal you read in the newspapers ts
misreported, inaccurite and ignorant” Peck said.
in an oblique reference to the hivhly-charged
O.J. Simpson case in California.

SERIES AP A

Trani, 55, stands charged with 27 counts of
indecent and sexual assault, and gross indecency
in connection with 22 alleged victims, ranging in
age from five to 19, The alleged incidents
spanned a | 2-year period ending in 1983.

“There is an inherent buift-in absurdity to
these charges.” Peck declared in his closing
arguments, coumering the case built by crown
prosecutor Richard Cairns during the five-week
trial.

Peck denied frani purposely over-drugged his
patients, and rejected the 40% concentration of
nitrous oxide that Crown experts testified was
recommended in the field.

“Dr. Irani works in the real world with diffi-
cult patients.” the kuvyer argued before Justice
Alki Stewart,

Peck reminded the jury that patients given
doses in the 10% to 60% range “experience
dreams, tlishbacks, contusions of reality, distor-
tons of perceptions and sometimes hallucina-
(loons.

e : aie AS a er Ee oe a se ORT Apa ae RIA TEL GeV AND NL CE

REACHING EVERY DOOR ON THE NORTH SHOR

“The dentist was less aware of their body
type than if they were mature women,” Peck
argued.

On the other hand, Peck noted, the vast
majority of the complainants were girls entering
puberty, who therefore were highly conscious of
their own body and sensations.

“They were conscious of their breast develop-
ment,” Peck told the jury.

The lawyer told the court that Irani had no
time and Hite opportunity to molest patients in
his busy office. The defence lawyer added it was
absurd to suggest “that for some reason ina LO0-
year period, he chose to furtively touch female
patients.

“The defence position is that this is a case of
ntisperception, distortion and false memory.”
Peck declared.

The jury started deliberations Friday.

=

FRENCH FORTRESS
18th-century fortress a
must-see when visiting
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia.

33

msicde
the news

BUIOL eccceeeee ees)
® Classifieds................38
& Crossword.................45
# Horoscopes................34

 N. Shore Alert

Sunshine Girl.
BW TV Listingg..................26

@ Vintage Years...........30

@ Ghost town on
NV waterfront: 3

If Suburban fallout ~
The yuk is falling: 7

LT =
fashion
@ Relaxed knits snap
to attontion: 17

8 Couples working
together: 18

Weather
Monday: mainly cloudy
with showers.
Tuesday: rainy periods.
Highs 12°C, lows 5°C.

Canadian Publications Mail Sales
Product Agreement No. 0087238