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THE Richards family has seen happier times. Ron (left), Elissa (second from right) and Peter are still grieving the oss of mother and wife Marlisse (centre), who was killed in a December collision on the Upper Levels Highway.

NV victim’s family seeks stiff sentence

Kevin Gillies News Reporter

FAMILY and friends of a North Vancouver woman killed late last year on the Upper Levels Highway contin- ue to grieve their loss as the sentencing hearing approaches,

“We're trying to do all these vietim-impact — state- ments,” a dispirited Peter Richards said on Tuesday,

His wite Marlisse Annette Richards would have turned 35 in January.

But while driving her pick- up truck up the Cut section of the Upper Levels Highway on Dee. 4, she collided with a 1988 Buick travelling in the wrong direction. .

“Fm playing Mr. Tough Guy and uying to put on a brave face,” Richards said, adding it’s important he be strong for the couple’s two kids. “They're hanging in there. They have their moments. Every now and then our daughter gocs off for a cry.”

Elissa Richards turns 12 on Thursday. Her brother Ron is 15.

“One of her (Marlisse’s) younger sisters is pretty messed up about it. So is her mother,” Richards said.

Tt wasn't just the family thar was affccted.

“IT can’t even put into words what Marlisse meant to everybody,” said Reva McDonnell, a Martisse.

“There's a lot of us thar are still having problems — like

“We were best buddies ... and for her to be gone is

one of probably the most hurts

I’ve ever felt in

my life.” gricf-related problems with it.

T have good days and bad days. “We were best buddies ...

and for her to be gone is one of “probably the most hurts I've

ever felt in life,” McDonnell said.

The family will be at the North Vancouver court house June 29 when Patricia. Ann Goethals, 42, is scheduled to be sentenced in connection with the collision.

Goethals pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death and driving with a blood-alcohol Jevel yreat than 08 during a brief court appearance June 2.

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According to a June 4 North Shore News story, the woman did net enter a plea i in a third charge she faced, impaired driving causing death. Family and fiends fear the sentence may be fess than what they feel is deserved.

“It was a crime,” said McDonnell. “It’s a pretty complex issue and I don’r want to sound revenge secking,” she said,

She’s concerned the sen- tence, Which has vet to be determined, may not act as a deterrent.”

“People are still being killed every day by drunk drivers,” she said. “E think the more that peopic get riled, get angry, then there will be changes.

“There's nor cnough deter- rents.” McDonnell - said, adding that more people need to stand up and demand changes before sentences will be stiffened.

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Anna Marie D’Ange!o

News Reporter dangelo@nsnews.com

A Rockridge student who was kicked out of schoo! earlier this year was in court on Friday facing three charges of sexually assaulting female Rockridge stu- dents.

Rockridge middle school is located in West Vancouver's Caulfeild area,

The accused former stu- dent is charged with three sex- tual assaults, five assaults with a weapon and four assault charges. The accused 15-year old Bowen Island resident can- not be named as it would con- travene the Young Offenders Act.

The crimes are alleged to have occurred at the school from last October to March. The complainants are around age 14 and Grade 9 students.

On Friday, one of the com- plainants testified in’ North Vancouver provincial court.

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Sexual assauit trial continues

The — L4-vearold West Vancouver resident — stated under questioning from Crown Lawver Rod Flannigan that the accused persisted: in wanting to be invited to a party she was hosting for a friend in March.

She was sitting on the ground near the drama and mMuvi¢ roonts when the accused cat down and straddled her hips. She testified he rocked back and forth “moaning and groaning.” She testified he Kised her more than once on the forchead. The embarrassed xiri testitied she stated, “If you get off me, PH let vou come to my party.”

On cross: examination by detence Jawyer Brian Caleman, the gicl stated others thought the incident was a joke.

The accused teen is alleged

to have chased a couple of

female students while bran- dishing “a long board.”

A l4-year- -old witness tes- titied she saw the youth throw the board at che screaming girls near the gyn.

When asked on cross exam-

ination whether any teacher had come out during the com- motion, the student said, “Our teachers don’t really care.” The girl testified that the accused teen put her head in a headlock during another inci- dent in the cafeteria. “Ir wasn't really to hart, I don’t think,” she testified. The tial continues in July before Judge William Diebolr. Meanwhile West Vancouver Police are contem- plating charging five Sentinel students with sexual assault after clderly women were groped in West Vancouver in May during a car rally.

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