News eee TeReview Wednesday, March 28,1990 — Aa | Manslaughter trial Bunny bounced from bar Donning a rabbit suit didn’t disguise a Pender Island man enough to keep him from being booted out of Browning Pub when he hopped in for a drink Aug. 10. He doffed the suit and returned wielding a two-by-two piece of wood, chasing a would-be attacker through the kitchen and causing $200 damage. On Thursday in Sidney provin- cial court Randy Stewart Ross- Smith, 26, pleaded guilty to mis- chief. Judge Stephen Denroche ordered Ross-Smith to pay $200 restitution and placed the man on probation for two years, ordering him to remain away from the pub. Defence lawyer David McLeod said Ross-Smith has since moved from Pender Island to Victoria, in part because of the notoriety aris- ing from the charge. There has been considerable gossip and merrymaking among island residents over the incident, McLeod said. Ross-Smith rented the rabbit costume for his son’s birthday party and, after a few drinks with adults at the party, decided to visit the Browning Pub to see if anyone recognized him, Mcleod said. He had earlier been barred from the pub after a series of spats with the pub owners, McLeod added. In response to some comments made while the rabbit-clad Ross- Smith was being evicted from the pub, the man tossed a drink at a woman, then went into the nearby bush to remove the costume, Crown counsel Edward Ormheim said. Two men approached, carrying two-by-two pieces of wood, and challenged Ross-Smith to a fight. Freed of the costume, Ross-Smith grabbed one of the pieces of wood and chased one of the men through the pub kitchen, smashing dishes and damaging equipment, Orm- heim said. Police were called and found Ross-Smith hiding in the pub parking lot. He had a previous conviction for breaking, entering and theft in 1982, Ormheim added. McLeod said Ross-Smith was raised on Pender Island and was living there with his wife and son at the time of the incident. He had been unemployed because of an automobile accident, but is now working in Richmond, McLeod said. His family is in Victoria and will join him as soon as it is financially feasible, McLeod explained. Anacortes ship added Washington State ferries added another ferry Sunday to the Sidney, San Juan Island and Anacortes route. The 75-car Steel Electric was added to the two 160-car ferries now serving the route. A new state gasoline tax allowed the ferry system to add extra boats on four routes, including the Sidney to Anacortes run. The extra ferry adds more mid- day service over the spring and summer, For schedule information call 381-1551 or 656-1531. Would-be car thief goes to jail A man caught during an attempted car theft from Jeffer- son’s Auctioneering March 9 was sentenced in Victoria provincial court Thursday to 22 months in jail. Domonic Hicks, 19, of no fixed address, was tracked by a police dog after the attempted theft. A newspaper clipping linked Hicks to a March 6 armed robbery of the Cordova Bay PayLess Gas Station. Hicks pleaded guilty to the rob- bery of Payless Gas and to the break-in of Jefferson’s Auctioneer- img, In Victoria court Thursday, Crown counsel Nicholas Lang said Hicks, accompanied by two others, went to the gas station March 6. Two of the trio entered the Station and Hicks hit the attendant over the head with a claw hammer The attendant required stitches and hospitalization, Lang said. Hicks and the other man took $365.68 from the gas station till and from the victim’s wallet. op) “U m7 © > - O ml a! ale Mm ==) ¥ PAN FRIED TOMATO PRAWNS MEIN TEA or COFFEE ONLY $795 — a | MONTH COMBO FOR ONE WITH CHICKEN CHOW. ‘Bayshore FAMILY RESTAURANT Chinese Cuisine FULLY LICENCED OPEN 11AM TUESDAY - SUNDAY _ (Except Holidays) — ardier Ave. Brentwood Bay Hicks, Allan Keith Mole, 18, and a 16-year-old Brentwood Bay youth were arrested in Central Saanich three days later, after police were alerted that someone was trying to crash a Ford Pinto through the Jefferson’s Auction- eering fence at 4:30 a.m. A newspaper clipping on the PayLess theft was found on one of the three and a search of one of the residences yielded gloves and blond hair coloring which Hicks used to change his hair color for the hold-up. A stolen 1971 Mercury Comet was recovered by Central Saanich police. Judge Robert Greig sentenced Hicks to 18 months in jail on the robbery, plus four months for the break-in. Hicks had previous convictions for breaking and entering as a youth and adult. He was on proba- tion for the same offence in Alberta last year, FAMILY DINNER ¥ DF PRAWNS ¥ ALMOND GUY DING ¥ CHICKEN CHOW MEIN ¥ CHICKEN FRIED RICE C4 ¥DF CHICKEN WINGS ©) Serves 4-5 people ONLY $ 25° Serving the Peninsula for over 12 years. Always with Guaranteed Freshness, Consistancy and Good Taste. 652-3622 next court session Two Victoria men charged with manslaughter and criminal heglig- ence causing the death of a man off Island View Beach, last sum- mer, will go to trial sometime next September. Michael Allen Hodson, 27, and David Lorne Wilson, 35, elected trial by judge and jury and were committed for trial following a preliminary hearing earlier this month. Both are to appear in Victoria- ad County court April 26 to fix a date eet for trial during the next session in September The two were charged in the @& death of Sean Benoit, 32, who was ~~ reported missing following a beach party on Island View Beach Aug. 12. His body was found in Haro Strait 17 days later. Canis fil ICBC CLAIMS 3) PROMTLY HANDLED ; rai Mie JP MOUS “esse |) Nit GLASS & UPHOLSTERY CALL US FOR: * EMERGENCY NUMBER 656-2077 *« « 9-10025 GALARAN RD. Patio Doors & | | Window Screens And All Your Glass Needs! 656-1313 Celebrating their Golden Wed- ding Anniversary this week are Mina and Dick Leigh of Sidney. They were married in Vancouver. - retired to Sidney 18 years ago. They have one son Kenneth who lives in Vancouver. A reception _ tor family and friends is being hosted by son Ken and friends Ed _ and Ken Tyrrell at the Tyrrell home » March 28, 1990. Leigh 2436 BEACON AVE. Tanners Easter Colouring Contest is open to children trom 4 to 9 years old. Enter soon. Great prizes. Deadline April 13. Details and entry forms available in store. sont A BOOKSTORE & MORE