4- ~ Wednesday, February 14, 1996 — ‘North Shore ‘News Molestation Rescue effort continued in darkness recounted fd THREE WOMEN spoke _ in court last Thursday about how their lives were affected after they were sexually molested by an elderly West Vancouver man they once called “Gramps” or “Uncle Art.” By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter “I didn’t get a childhood... | felt guilty for so long. It has eaten me up for so long.” said a tearful 18-year- old Victoria woman desperately try- ing to remain composed. She had been sexually molested by the family friend on an intermit- tent basis from the time she was three until] she was about 12. Said another emotional victim, age 15 from Castlegar, “When 1 was 10 and told my parents and then the police told me that I could press charges but that nothing would hap- pen... He brought this ou his family. It is not fair to punish me for what he did.” The young girl travelled to West Vancouver provincial court by bus with her family from Castlegar. Like the other three victims, she wanted to be present for the sen- tencing of a former family friend, William Arthur Hand, 87. Hand pleaded guilty on Dec. 11 to three charges of sexual assault and one charge of indecent assault against four girls over a 17-year period ending in 1991. Hand was 83 in 1991. The victims’ identities are protected by court order. West Vancouver Judge Reginald Grandison will release his sentence on the charges on Feb. 27. Grandison asked Hand if he had anything to say. “If I have done anything that harmed them... 1 apologize to the girls. I'm sorry, I'm deeply sorry. I hever meant to. I never pursued them, nothing vicious on my part,” said Hand. Crown lawyer Dan Mulligan said that Hand sexually assaulted three of the victims during visits to the home of his daughter, Susan Port, who lived in Castlegar. One girl was sexuatly assaulted in West Vancouver while taking part in fam- ily visits at Hand's home. At least two of the women were heard sobbing in the courtroom as Mulligan discussed the sexual crimes, Mulligan said the victims’ par- ents viewed Hand as a harmless We'll help make it simple, convenient and affordable. Vv court man. Some of the parents discour- aged the girls from shunning him. said Mulligan. The victims, seated in the second and third row of the tense courtroom gallery, were surrounded by about eight family members and victim support workers. Hand, with white hair and a white bushy beard and dressed in a light blue suit, sat heside his lawyer. Hand's 85-year-old wife, Margaret, who uses a cane, sometimes stared into space as she sat with her daugh- ter in the first row of the courtroom, Mulligan said the sexual assaults involved fondling above and under- neath the clothing of the victims. “There appears a lack of remorse here... He feels his behavior would not be considered a crime a number of years ago.” said Mulligan refer- ring to pre-sentencing reports. Defence lawyer Brian Mickelson said his client was by definition a pedophile, but a “less dangerous” opportunist type and not the preda- tory-type of pedophile. Asked Grandison, “Does that make much difference to the victim if the victim is a victim of prey or a victim of opportunity?” Mickelson acknowledged that Hand was not as fully remorseful as “we would like.” “can say with a straight face that he is not a danger to the public.” said the defence lawyer. Mickelson said that as church warden, the Sault Saint Maric-born Hand had held the highest office for a lay person in the Anglican Church in Toronto. He said that Hand had been hon- ored for his work at his West Vancouver church, St. Christopher's Anglican Church, Mulligan explained that two of the victims’ families had confronted Hand's daughter in 1991. Castlegar police were notified at the time. The matter was being dealt with private- ly, according to Mulligan. A West Vancouver girl went to West Vancouver Police in 1995. Police here contacted Castlegar police and the Castlegar allegations were “revived.” A fourth Castlegar victim came forward in 1995. Mulligan asked that Hand be sentenced wo weekends in jail for about a year and three yeurs’ proba- tion. Mickelson said that Hand should not be given a jail sentence. He pointed to Hand's age and the fact that he helps his wife of 57 years and his 95-year-old sister-in- law. The sister-in-law lives with the Hands in West Vancouver. From pave 1 seizures from lack of oxygen. and nussive head and chest injuries. Lachapelle and Hunter covered Gander to keep hin warm. Rescue team members got a call about the accident as they were dri- ving down Mount Seymour after Berther’s rescue. Zilahi said Gander's accident had been reported carlier to the ski patrol, but patrol members thought Berther’s and Gander’s accidents were the same ane, Ry the ine rescue teams mem- bers reached Gander. darkness loomed. While rescuers moved Gander into a Comox-based Labrador helicopter, an airplane dropped fares to illuminate the scene. Affordable Insurance. Easy Monthly Payments! RENEW, add to or upgrade your insurance. Then, choose a monthly payment plan that fits your budget. {J Autopian C) Tenants/Condominiam J Homeowners {) Travel LJ Boat/Yacht/R.V's C) tife/Disability {J Commercial + financing * Ank (or full detalls. Some rentrictions apply Gander was flown to Vancouver Hlospital. He was reported in poor condition Tuesday morning. On Monday, North and West Vancouver Emergency Program coordinator Ross Peterson said sunny weekend weather tempted many people to hike the icy area. “There's good potential for lois of accidents in conditions like this,” he said. fall us. 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