Ck oF NORTH ANTE ¥

ere

custody. batile for the a once ‘child ofa mildty hand.

F -icapped” ‘North. Vancouver couple. sre schéduled to be’ pres-.

ented i in North Vancouver provincial court. today. 7

dn® testimony. earlier’ this week, “* Judge Shirley,Giroday was told. the... “ child’s father had a volatile temper and he questioned his own pare ting abilities. ,,....: “Dr: David ‘Hooks, the director of.the Burnaby: centre for mentally handicapped ‘adults ‘at . -which Pearl

had. an “explosive temper and ‘car- ried: knives’, and ‘ a steel, pipe’ for

protection. . ° The’ psychologist . ‘also ‘said that ‘Tim: had told him he did not ‘feel

“he ‘could be ‘a parent. because’ he:

had been beaten by his father and

was afraid that he would abuse his

mother, - father are suitable

: Though the, co ple left the cen.

tre’sday program voluntarily, in . October 1986, Hooks said he: had © advised . otherwise: because the Lemkys had not developed paren- _ ting skills, , pO

The Lemkys are seeking. return

“of their. 14-month-old ‘babygirl, Donna, ‘from: foster parents; but,

the superintendent: ‘of. family and child *,services:: wafits “permianen

wardship of the. child, because, ac- °

cording to, the agency’s lawyer, the : parents’mental state renders them

ROR *S Your ‘Uncle vocalist < ‘Tee is under the spotlight.

“March's 1

& Two families of Lemky relatives “are .'also ‘seeking custody of ‘the - child.

According. 10, testimony ‘given: Donna’ was placed ‘in foster care after provincial ‘child

' welfare officials became concerned,

over’ Tim. Lemky’s ‘admissions of: violent’ acts, such as‘ ripping up

‘books and smashing toasters when:

he was angry: Social worker Jane Welton also

: threats.,

le parents

“nother. “had nade Frequent suicide

Barry Brown;: child” care. -worker,, testified at t the hearing in’ | March that though . Pearl had ‘the ability to look ‘after Donna’s basic ‘needs, she showed limited interest’ in and did. little to, stimulate the < child. - . °..

»He said :the couple appeared. to _ treat their baby as if it, were a doll.

99 98S who was born, March

9,.1987 in Lions Gate’ Hospital, : aes subsequently apprehended by eo

i :