Canada's: Number “Suburban Newspaper”

ollins gets” nasty: 6

THE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER

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Two PEOPLE. have been released on their own _ recognizance ‘following a failed $2 million extor-

“tion -attempt against Expo 86 chairman Jimmy -

Pattison. |

‘Jennifer 3 ‘Margarethe . Neilsen, 29, of Burnaby, and .. “Jeffrey, Donald Watson, 27, ‘of ‘Morro Bay, California, ° appeared in West Vancouver provincial court Thursday morning accused of attemp- “ting to extért the money from: Pattison through tele- phone threats at about 2 «a.m. Boxing Day morning.

_. FIREFIGHTERS: battled ‘for ‘almost two hours to

The two were released on

their own recognizance with

- a $15,000 cash surety for ~ ~ British Properties, above the

Watson’ and a: $10,000. cash surety for Neilsen. |

PSYCHIATRIC EXAM In addition Neiisen. was

required to undergo . a psychiatric examination and

* contain ‘a $1 million blaze that gutted” the top

floor’ of . Westview Shopping Centre’s south end

- New: ‘Year’ s Day.

> lit up the North. p.ri. Wednesday. ” Vanicouve “sky at about a\

Inspector Lieut. °

Gavin

‘forbidden from going’ north Levels -

of th Highway couver.

: Pattison

the Upper:

in West Van-

lives in- the

“Upper | Levels Highway. Blond-haited

court: gallery. and -Watson, ‘a

jJarge, -heavy-set man with dark hair and complexion,

Soanes, a fire ‘prevention of-

ficer “with . the North Van-

couver’ City Fire Depart- ’ . Ment, says investigators are “ concentrating on the kitchen

ond- e Neilsen: . ¢turned. her’ head from the...

‘in’ the - restaurant

. Ea sf - J IMMY. PATTISON a

“of the Pink Pearl Restaurant as the area where the fire is...”

most likely to have started. Pink Pearl kitchen staff

- alerted the fire department

after noticing smoke and flames above the false ceiling Soanes

sat silently as crown pro- secutor Deirdze Pothecary stated the cir umstarices of the case.

The def cndaiits' lawyers

‘Peter Leasx:2nd ‘Glen Orris

respectively argued: ‘about

conditions for their ‘clients’,

release.

PUBLICATION BAN

Judge Reg: ‘Grandison’”

placed a ban on publication. - ‘of Thursday’s © court. pr ceedings. :

‘said. . Patrons of the restaurant,

which ; was. doing a” brisk. holiday trade, evacuated’ the: Premises, poe

' DAMAGE ESTIMATED ne Soanes, although hesitant .

West : Vancouver “- Poli .said. the two were arrested Boxing Day evening on charges. of trespassing by , Might and Were later. releas- ed.

- They were again arrested New Year’s Eve morning on ‘the extortion. charge and “remanded ‘in custedy “until ~ “Thursday? 5 court. ap- pearance...

The: two are scheduled to ‘reappear in West’ “Vancouver provincial ‘court for’ a pre-: liminary, hearing April 18.2 5°

to estimate the amount’ of. it was in: excess''of $1 “mil- lion. Fire offi tials: have not: yet * determined the cause of: the firey *

Fire Prevention . “Chief - ’ Larry: Barker said the ~ building® was not equipped

* with a sprinkler system.

Soanes said the fire caused extensive, ‘damage to. the “south énd ‘of the mall com- “plex, burning: ‘through the

Per on the second floor.

', OFFICES GUTTED

All of the offices on: the second floor above the res- taurant were gutted, while “the restaurant.;suffered ex- tensive » smoke, water and fire damage. :

Video Station, Larry’s _ Sports Shop. and. Larry’s *. Shoe Repair also had smoke _ and water damage.

The second-storey offices ‘were leased to. Dr. L.E. Mallin, a dentist, Davis In- surance, Dina’s Dressmak- ing, W. Goodbrand and Associates Ltd:, a consulting firm’and Edward G. Palmer and Florence Palmer, Notary Publics. The building ‘is owned by Adams Property Group.

STRUCTURE GONE

. Bruce Delaney, owner of Westview Esso gas station, said Thursday the south half of the mall “tis gone.” *~ It Jooks as though the substructure of the floor above (the restaurant) has

See Fire

Page 2

damage the: fire caused, “said.