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A SALMON leaps tantalizingly close to these obiivious fishermen as they work their lines near the mouth of the North Shore’s Capilano River.

Ontario man acquitted on attempted murder, kidnapping charges

DAYID ALEXANDER Snow was found not guilty Friday in North Vancouver provincial court of attempted murder

and kidnapping.

But Judge Jerome Paradis found the 37-year-old Ontario man guilty of sexual assault caus- ing bodily harm, armed robbery, attempting to choke another per- son and confinement against will.

In addition, Paradis stayed a charge of sexual assault against Snow.

The charges stem from the ab- duction of a female employee of North Vancouver’s Bridge House restaurant in July.

Snow will be sentenced on Nov. 2.

Crown counsel Greg Weber will decide if he plans to have Snow

By Surj Rattan News Reporter

declared a dangerous offender at Snow’s sentencing.

In his written decision, Paradis stated:

“I cannot conclude that the placing of the wire around the neck of the victim and/or the placing of the plastic bag over her head are sufficient to establish a specific intent to kill...

“There was, no doubt, an in- tent to stifle her, to prevent her

from seeking assistance and perhaps an intent to facilitate a sexual assault.

“fam unable to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the necessary mens rea (criminal intent) for attempted murder was present, and 1 find him not guilty on that account,’’ wrote Paradis.

He added that Snow did not plan to kidnap the Bridge House restaurant employee and ‘“‘in fact was incapable of doing so without her participation.

“‘Needless to say, the facts clearly disclose a confinement.”’

Paradis said that Snow ‘‘had no particular plan’? when he accosted any of his victims.

“The accused acted from mo- ment to moment as circumstances

developed,’’ said Paradis.

He added that Snow had origi- nally only planned to rob the vic- tim of the Bridge House restau- rant but then decided to sexually assault her.

**.,,the accused, at some point between the time he took the money from the victim’s purse and the arrival of the police, changed his focus from escape to some form of sexual activity with his then-prisoner,*’ wrote Paradis.

The decision follows a three- day trial in North Vancouver pro- vincial court in late August.

Snow was the subject of the largest manhunt ever staged by the North Vancouver RCMP.

Prior to his trial in August, Snow had pleaded guilty to 11

additional charges laid against him, including two counts of sex- ual assault with:a weapon, one count of sexual assault and four counts of armed robbery.

Snow was arrested July 12 at about 4 a.m. outside the Bridge House restaurant on Capilano Road in North Vancouver after the police found him standing over a bound and gagged female employee of the restaurant.

His arrest ended a reign of ter- ror that began in Vancouver in June and ended with his arrest in North Vancouver.

Snow has admitted in a state- ment of facts that during that time he:

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REACHING EVERY DOOR ON THE NORTH SHORE SINCE 1969