No jail for mother of dead baby

A 25-year-old Richmond woman who tossed her stillborn child into the bushes shortly after giving birth in the summer of 2001 won't be spending any time in jail.

Richmond provincial court Judge Ron Fratkin granted the woman an absolute discharge Monday afternoon, ruling that the woman has already suffered enough from the loss of a child, the "indignity of giving birth in the fashion she did" and the "curious notoriety" that resulted from the media attention after charges were laid.

The woman gave birth in her bathtub to the stillborn child in August 2001.

Defence lawyer Matthew Nathanson told the court his client did not know she was pregnant and her traditional Sikh culture prevented her from turning to her family for support after her delivery.

She turned to a friend, who eventually called CrimeStoppers to alert police to the fact the woman disposed of the baby's remains in some near No. 1 and River roads.

After an initial search of the area by police was fruitless, investigators eventually found the baby's remains.

"My client acknowledges she did the wrong thing and she's remorseful for it," said Nathanson, noting that his client has career aspirations of becoming a lawyer.

Fratkin noted that the woman appears to have a bright future ahead of her.

The Crown had no evidence to indicate that the baby was born alive.

-by Martin van den Hemel

Crash claimed chaplain's son

Police have identified the man killed in a crash that appears to have involved speed and alcohol at No. 3 Road and Cambie last Friday morning.

The victim was identified as Josh Turner, 24, of Delta, the son of Jim Turner who is the chaplain for the RCMP E Division, Delta Police and Vancouver Police.

"Joshua was a sensitive, caring and gifted young man who was deeply loved by his family and many close friends," the family said in a prepared statment.

Around 2:20 a.m. Friday, a Chevrolet Cavalier slammed head-on into a cement barrier that separates regular traffic from the 98 B-line bus lane.

A 25-year-old Richmond woman who was in the car with Turner was taken to hospital but was not seriously injured.

Crash leaves man in coma

A 32-year-old Delta man is in a medically-induced coma, but is expected to survive after his car struck a van head-on at the corner of Sidaway Road and Steveston Highway on Monday.

The man was driving a Honda CRX.

Another vehicle, a minivan, trying to avoid the collision wound up in the ditch. The driver of the minivan had minor injuries while the van's driver was unhurt.

Police say the CRX crossed the centre line but don't know why.

Worker killed after tugboat shifts

A 22-year-old Richmond man was killed Tuesday morning during a tragic industrial accident at Shelter Island Marina and Boatyard, at Graybar Road in East Richmond and south of Westminster Highway.

A 50-ton tugboat was being moved while in dry dock when it shifted position, falling on the worker and killing him.

The Workers Compensation Board has determined that it has jurisdiction to investigate this mishap, but isn't releasing any information at this point, according to spokesperson Donna Freeman.

The regional coroners office is also investigating.

Community grants awarded

Richmond Community Foundation presented grants to help several local projects last Saturday.

Recipients were: London Heritage Farm for an information centre cabinet ($3,000), Evergreen for a youth stewardship initiative ($3,000), Richmond Public Library for a toy lending library ($5,000), Richmond Youth Service Agency for peer mentoring workshops ($500), Richmond Marine Rescue Society for rescue and safety equipment ($2,500), Gateway Theatre for an archival display unit ($5,000), and the Community Arts Council for a lecture series ($3,000).

Better Business Bureau's 12 tips of Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Whether you're looking for the latest high-tech gadget, a rare antique or fine jewelry, there are more ways to shop than ever before.

No matter how you shop (by telephone, catalogue, in traditional retail stores or online) it pays to be a savvy customer.

To help consumers avoid common complaints and problems, the Better Business Bureau offers the following twelve holiday shopping tips:

1. There is no law in B.C. requiring a merchant to give you a refund or exchange if you change your mind. Find out what the company‚s refund policy is before you buy. Ask for a gift receipt when making a purchase, to enclose with the gift, and what the terms of the receipt are. A gift receipt does not reveal the price of the purchase and may allow a recipient to exchange the gift within a reasonable amount of time.

2.Comparison shop. A "sale" price is not always the "best" price. Some merchants may offer the sale price on the item you want for a limited time; others may discount the item you want every day. If the sale price is offered for more than 30 days, this becomes its regular price and the store should discontinue advertising the item as being "on sale."

3. Look for price-matching policies. Some merchants will match, or even beat, their competitors‚ prices. Read the company‚s pricing policy carefully. It may not apply to all items.

4. Ask about sale price adjustments. If the price of an item goes down shortly after you buy it, some stores will refund the difference.

5. Read sale ads carefully. Some may say "quantities limited," "no rain checks," or "not available at all stores." Contact the store ahead of time to ask if the item you want is in stock and if there is an adequate supply. If you are shopping for a popular or hard-to-find item, ask the merchant if he or she would be willing to hold the item until you can get to the store. Companies do not have to provide rain checks. Be wary of "Bait and Switch Practices."

6. When making a long trip for a bargain, factor in time, travel and any parking costs to assess your savings.

7. If you place a deposit, inquire if the deposit is refundable, under what terms and get it in writing.

8. Before you sign, read all the terms and conditions of a sales agreement carefully and make sure it backs up any verbal promises or guarantees.

9. Read any warranty before purchasing an item. Know what the warranty covers and any limitations.

10. Be informed about your rights before placing orders through catalogues, mail order, and TV shopping networks. Ask about delivery costs, how returns are handled, and when the item will be shipped.

11. If you shop online, pay by C.O.D. or credit card and make certain the company has a phone number and a physical address as opposed to just a mail drop. Be aware of the company's security and privacy protection policy. Factor in shipping costs and the delivery date.

12. Be careful with your finances. Keep to a budget and write a list of the things you need. Try to avoid making too many impulsive purchases or putting more than you can afford on your credit card.

Before making a major purchase, do your research. Investigate before you invest! When in doubt, check with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbbvan.org.

Shooting leaves one man dead

A 20-year-old Surrey resident is dead and two people are in police custody after a shooting at a condo at 5900 Muir Dr. in Hamilton early Friday morning.

Richmond RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen said New Westminster Police contacted local authorities after finding a vehicle containing a deceased man stopped at the side of the road on Stewardson Way and Third Avenue at 5:30 a.m. Friday.

The vehicle had three people in it, all people in their late teens or early 20s, including one man who had been shot and died.

After interviewing the car's occupants, Thiessen said investigators determined there had been a shooting at the condo, located near the 21000 block of Westminster Highway.

The two men found with the victim remain in police custody until investigators can determine whether the shooting was an accident or intentional.

Police are continuing their investigation along with New Westminster Police and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

—by Martin van den Hemel

Speed suspected in fatal crash

Police suspect alcohol and speed were a deadly combination early Friday morning when a Chevrolet Cavalier slammed head-on into a cement barrier on No. 3 Road north of Cambie Road around 2:20 a.m.

The driver of the vehicle, a 24-year-old man from Delta, was pronounced dead at the scene while his 25-year-old female passenger, from Richmond, was taken to hospital but was later released.

The Cavalier struck the cement barrier that separates regular traffic from the 98 B-line bus lane.

Police are not releasing the name of the driver pending notification of the next of kin.

Richmond RCMP Cpl. Dave Williams said that early indications are that both speed and alcohol were factors.

—by Martin van den Hemel

Class action suit mulled

The shutdown of B.C. Ferries is likely to cost the coastal trucking industry millions of dollars, and could lead to a class action suit against the B.C. Ferries and Marine Workers Union.

"The owners are urging us to launch a class action suit," said Paul Landry, president and CEO of the B.C. Trucking Association. "We're saying they should keep track of expenses, determine how much of a financial loss there is, and we'll make a decision at a later time. But this is an illegal strike, and a class action suit could be launched against the union."

Disaster signs going up

Twenty-three signs were installed along disaster routes in Richmond this week, so people know to stay out of the way when catastrophe strikes.

The Richmond routes were recently approved by the city and complete the disaster response route network in the Lower Mainland.

The local routes run along Alderbridge Way from the Highway 91 interchange, south on Garden City Road to Granville Avenue, west along Granville to No. 2 Road, along No. 2 from the airport to Steveston Highway, west on Steveston Highway to No. 1 Road and south on No. 1 Road.

In the case of a disaster, residents will be asked to steer clear of the activated routes to allow emergency crews to bring in critical resources and supplies as quickly as possible, transport the sick and injured to hospital, gain access to incident sites and execute evacuations.

The disaster response routes are a joint initiative of the Ministry of Transportation, the Provincial Emergency Program, the Greater Vancouver Regional District and Lower Mainland municipal governments.