Courts Drenched hiker drives island van into ditch Seeking shelter from the rain, a Sidney man climbed into a van on Saturna Island, then decided to borrow the vehicle to reach his gulfriend’s house, a defence lawyer told Sidney provincial court Thursday. Edward Emil Kirmhse, 33, pleaded guilty to taking a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner. Crown counsel Edward Ormheim said the vehicle owner was wakened at 5 a.m. March 26 by someone climbing into the van parked outside a Saturna Island home. : The van, with keys that had been left in the ignition, was driven away. The owner followed in another vehicle and found his van farther down the road in a ditch. Nearby the van owner found Kirmhse and, at Kirmhse’s request, drove the man to a house at the end of Nevis Point Road. Police identified Kirmhse as the person taking the van after talking to a resident of the Nevis Point Road house. Damage to the van was extensive, Ormheim said. He predicted civil action by the Insurance Corporation of B.C. against Kirmhse. : Lawyer Thomas Irwin said his client went to Saturna Island to visit his girlfriend. Kirmhse planned to stay with friends near the ferry terminal but found a party under way, so left the party after several hours to walk to his girlfriend’s home. After heading down the road in the van, Kirmhse thought better of taking the van. He slid it into the ditch while trying to park. Ormheim said Kirmhse had two previous convictions for shoplifting. He noted Kirmhse was not charged with stealing the vehicle. “Nobody is going to go very far on Satuma Island, so it is a general policy that it is a joyride,” Ormheim said. Judge Loretta Chaperon fined Kirmhse $500. The Review Wednesday, February 14,1990 — A10 Woman’s assault on police ‘uncharacteristic,’ friends say A Central Saanich woman who assaulted two police officers is a college student, community volun- tcer and professional working tow- ards an international career, Sid- ney provincial court Judge Loretta Chaperon heard Thursday. Stefka Anderson, 38, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting a police officer Defence lawyer Adrian Brooks produced a sheaf of letters from friends and employers, all express- ing surprise that Anderson was facing such a charge. Crown counsel Edward Orm- heim said Anderson and a friend were stopped by Central Saanich police at 10 p.m. July 28. Anderson, a passenger in the Car, attempted to drive after her companion was placed in police custody as a suspected impaired driver. Since Anderson was also intoxi- cated, police prevented her from driving. She went with police to the station but objected when police told her to wait in the lobby. She slapped the officer who escorted her to the lobby, and slapped and wrestled with a second officer who tried to keep her from harassing the radio oper- Handicap plea works — almost A Central Saanich farmer was found guilty Thursday of driving with a blood-alcohol reading over .08 per cent, despite a successful defence that the man’s handicap could be mistaken for impairment. Evertt Douglas Broadley was fined $750 and had his licence suspended for a year by Judge Loretta Chaperon in Sidney pro- vincial court. Chaperon found Broadley, 67, guilty of driving with a blood- alcohol reading over .08 per cent on Aug. 3, but dismissed an impaired driving charge. Defence lawyer Mayland McKimm said Broadley’s knee and back problems and his normal hesitant speech could be mistaken for impairment. Speeder blows over .20 Breathalyzer readings of .24, .26 and .23 per cent were obtained after police tracked down a sus- pected impaired driver in Sidney Aug. 5. Tricia Ann Hamilton, 19, of Sidney pleaded guilty in Sidney provincial court Thursday to impaired driving. Crown counsel Edward Orm- heim said police received a call at 8 p.m. Aug. 5, reporting a small white car speeding in the Sterling Way area. A witness gave the licence number to police. Checking the owner’s address, police found Hamilton stopped in a nearby park at 8:15 p.m, Defence lawyer Thomas Irwin said Hamilton lives with her par- ents in Sidney. She attends Camo- sun College on a university trans- fer program full-time. She earns $200 a month work- ing each Saturday in a local store. Judge Loretta Chaperon fined Hamilton $300 and suspended her licence for a year. SUNLIGHT & Complete Interior Design Service LOCATED INSIDE STANDARD FURNITURE 10th FLOOR SIDNEY CENTRE DRAPES BEDSPREADS UPHOLSTERY SLIP COVERS MICRIORS C) 655-1514 Broadley said he had drunk no more than three beer while rototil- ling a field that morning. An insurance clerk reported Broadley to police as a possible impaired driver after Broadley drove away from the Brentwood office. Central Saanich Police Set. Christopher Morrison said he apprehended Broadley in the Oakcrest Shopping Centre parking lot, Saanichton, shortly before 2 p.m. A breathalyzer test produced readings of .21 and .19 per cent. Although McKimm questioned the validity of the test, Judge Chaperon accepted it as valid. Ormheim said Broadley was convicted of driving with a blood- alcohol reading of over .08 per cent in 1976. ator. Brooks produced letters from friends and colleagues, describing the incident as out of character. Anderson has worked for the federal and provincial government in increasingly responsible posi- tions, Books said. She helps care for her ailing father, was a lay counselor with the Need Crisis Line from 1985 to 1987, and was also a volunteer for a Kamloops Theatre Company. She is now attending Camosun college, working towards a degree in Economic geography. Because his client’s career will involve travel and since the inci- dent was uncharacteristic of Anderson, Brooks asked for a conditional discharge. The judge ordered Anderson to do 100 hours of community work service and placed her on proba- tion for six months. Anderson will be discharged afterwards. él Music in Miniature Series THE LINDEN SINGERS) Musical Director FRANCES POLLET “Music for an Edwardian Parlor” FRIDAY 23rd. FEB. 7:30 PM. ST. PAUL’S UNITED CHURCH, SIDNEY presents at All tickets at the door. e 5 Reception follows the concert. TOWN OF SIDNEY SNOW CLEARING In the event of snowfall property owners are advised that the Town of Sidney By-Law No. s the sidewalk in front of your premises. The Town of Sidney will keep major arterial and collector streets open and clear snow from as many downtown streets as possible. j In addition snow and ice are cleared from the sidewalks at intersections and bus stops. The co-operation of all property owners in this matter is greatly appreciated. D.C. Reynolds, Superintendent Works and Services, } Town of Sidney — LOW PREMIUMS You cant afford NOT to look into private insurance through The Prudential Assurance Company. If you are an experienced driver: — FREE EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE — FREE LIMITED DEPRECIATION FOR LATE MODEL AUTOMOBILES OPTIONS AVAILABLE: "— FULL REPLACEMENT COST FOR_ NEW VEHICLES : — LOSS OF USE PEMBERTON. HOL. (SIDNEY) LTD. OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK 8:30-5:00 MON.-FRI. 9:00-4:00: SATURDAY == 656-0911 353 requires you to clear snow and ice from | ¢ | 2481 BEACON AVE. | 4