attack

A SUNSHINE Coast man was |

first diagnosed with schizophre-
nia while in jail and about one
year after he stabbed a North
Vancouver man in the neck at
the Avalon Hotel.

By Anna Marie D'Angelo
News Reporter

Because of the mental illness afflict-
ing Mathew Owen Austin, 26, a B.C.
Supreme Court judge sentenced him to
three years’ probation on Dec. 20 for
assault with a weapon.

A charge of aggravated assault was
dropnedd,

“From the facts recited by the
Crown, it is clear that you (Austin) were
receiving in some ways the worst of the
fight outside the L.A. Pub ... early that
moming,” said Madam Justice Carol
Huddart in her reasons for sentencing.

“Had you not had in your possession
and used your pocket knife to defend
yourself, the injury to the victim would
not have occurred,” said the judge.

Austin, formerly of North
Vancouver, stabbed Robert Alfonse
Rogers, then 29, in the throat at 2:30
a.m. on Oct. 15, 1993. Rogers was list-
ed in serious condition at Vancouver
General Hospital shortly afterwards.

A Nerth Vancouver RCMP
spokesman stated that a fight broke out
between two intoxic:ied bar patrons,
according to an October 1993 News
report.

Rogers declined to comment on the
sentence. He has recovered from the
stabbing.

Huddart said Austin acknowledged
that he had used excessive force in self-
defence when he pleaded guilty to the
assault with a weapon.

Huddart stated that Austin was diag-
nosed with the serious mental illness
while in jail at the Stave Lake
Correctional Centre.

See Mental health page 3

Weather

Thursday: Rain, windy
High 11°C, low 5°C.

mise
Ba
HH A

NEWS photo Pau! McGrath

FRIDAY MARKS the last stop for driver Lyle Fraser and a shuttle bus that connects Park Royal's two malls, Park Royal Towers
and the Capilano RV Park. Seniers need the shuttle for shopping, while Park Royal says the bus does rot make financial sense.

Park Royal mall
management

drops bus service

AN ECONOMIC decision by Park
Royal Shopping Centre manage-
ment to chop a mall shuttle bus will
disrupt shopping schedules for out-

raged seniors in Park Royal

Towers.

By lan Noble
News Reporter

Seniors in the three apartment buildings
adjacent to the Park Royal Shopping Centre
add that Park Royal's decision to axe the
shuttle bus on Feb. 9 means more trips to
Super Valu, the nearest food store. and per-
haps more expense.

In defending the shuttle-bus cut, Park
Royal management said the service simply
isn’t viable.

Towers resident Geraldine Horn told the
News many towers residents are seniors.
Some are blind and many use walkers.

“That bus is very important to them and E think it's a damn crime

they've taken it off" said Horn.

Said a 78-year-old. 27-year resident of the towers, who preferred to

remain anonymous: “We depend on it.”

The shuttle picks up residents in front of their towers and drops

NEWS photo Terry Peters
PARK ROYAL director Rick Amantea (right)
opens doors for North Vancouver mayors
Murray Dykeman and Jack Loucks at a March
24 preview for a mall-connecting gondola.

Super Valu, the only food store residents
can get to without a car or municipal bus
service.

“Carrying groceries is no joke for older
people.” she said.

The woman said regular buses, which are
more difficult to get on and off, can be
intimidating for the elderly. Taxis cost more
and drivers don't like the short route from
Park Royal to Park Royal Towers, she said.

Legally blind Willie Grandt, 86, said

with the bus’ demise, he’s going to have to
walk to Super Valu. And because he can
only carry eight pounds at a time, he'll have
to make two to three trips to do his shop-
ping.
Currently, riders are supposed to con-
tribute five cents to ride the purple shuttle.
But elderly folks the News talked to said
they would be willing ta fork over mare to
keep the service running.

Park Royal Shopping Centre director
Rick Amantea told the News the bus is not
used enough to justify its nearly $100,000-

_ per-year operation costs.

He added that .0018% of those visiting
Park Royal use the shuttle.

“The need never really did justify the
expense,” Amantea said. “It's a difficult

time for retailers and one has to be [ooking at expenses aif the time in

order to survive.

them off at various stores in the centre's north and south malls.
The anonymous resident said seniors depend on the shuttle to go to

“Lt just becomes a fundamental business decision.”

He said fuel and liability costs have increased, and the shuttle bus is
aging. He said the shuttle bus went into service in the 1970s.

Amantea expects customers will walk back and forth between the

See Job toss page §