Sunday, March 31

Man pleads guilty in 2010 murder of Surrey woman

BY JENNIFER SALTMAN, THE PROVINCE MARCH 28, 2013

Dustin Lee Lalonde has pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Teri-Lyn Williams. The 41-year-old woman was discovered in the bushes off King George Blvd. in Central Surrey in June 2010.

Photograph by: Handout, Vancouver Sun

Dustin Lee Lalonde has admitted to killing a Surrey woman almost three years ago.

Lalonde pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of 41-year-old Teri-Lyn Williams in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster Thursday.

Williams, who also went by the name Toni Williams, was found dead in a small grassy area surrounded by trees on the easement in the 13600-block 104A Avenue in Surrey on June 9, 2010.

At the time of her death, police would not say how she was killed.

Williams left her Calgary home in April 2010. Little is known about her life between then and when she was killed, although she was involved in the sex trade for about 20 years and struggled with drug addiction.

Lalonde was charged with second-degree murder in September 2011.

At that time, he was serving a sentence for robbery and aggravated assault in connection with an incident that took place on Aug. 17, 2010 in Kelowna.

A conviction for second-degree murder comes with an automatic life sentence, however parole eligibility can vary. There is a minimum period of parole ineligibility of 10 years. The maximum is 25 years.

A sentencing hearing for Lalonde is scheduled for May 31.

jensaltman@theprovince.com

twitter.com/jensaltman

© Copyright (c) The Province

 

Teri-Lyn remembered

http://www.missingpeople.net/terilyn_remembered.htm

Family remembers ‘kind soul’ as police investigate escort’s death

‘This tragedy will forever remain in our hearts’

BY CLARA HO, CALGARY HERALD MARCH 25, 2013curriebarracks

Polina Kazanceva, an escort from Toronto, was found dead of blunt force trauma in Calgary last week. She was 19.

Photograph by: internet photo for the, Calgary Herald

She was a beam of light, a kind and generous soul, she was more than the path she chose to follow in life.

That’s how the family of 19-year-old Polina Kazanceva is remembering the Toronto escort, whose body was discovered on a Sunalta road Wednesday morning.

“She was very joyful and outgoing around her loved ones, she was a beam of light in any group,” Kazanceva’s family said in a statement issued Sunday through the Calgary Police Service.

“She was bright and always attentive towards others around her. Unfortunately, she had chosen to live fast and thus selected a path.”

Kazanceva was found dead by a taxi driver at around 4 a.m. Wednesday at 15th Avenue and 15th Street S.W. Police said she’d been in Calgary for about a week visiting friends.

An autopsy concluded she died of blunt force trauma. Her death is considered suspicious and is being investigated by the homicide unit.

The sorrow Kazanceva’s family feels is “inexplicable,” they said.

“This tragedy will forever remain in our hearts, an occurrence that is hard to overcome. There is nothing worse than having to bury your own child. We do not wish this upon anyone.”

An online escort listing showed Kazanceva, using an alias, had posted various ads indicating she had been in Calgary and Red Deer over the past few weeks.

One ad uploaded to the site Tuesday night said she was in Calgary for a week.

But in their statement, Kazanceva’s family focused on the happy memories.

They called her “a kind soul” whose generosity was astounding.

She never hesitated to help a person in need and was always ready to help with whatever she could. She never hurt the weak, and stood up for herself, said her family.

“Polina had charisma, for which she was respected by some and misunderstood or even envied by others,” they said. “For this, she stood out in any crowd.”

She also expressed joy, had a deep appreciation for life, and showed others to do the same.

“She loved and was loved. This is how Polina will remain in our hearts,” her family said.

Police confirmed Kazanceva’s death is not connected to a nearby crash early Wednesday involving a Cadillac at 12th Avenue and 2nd Street S.W.

The vehicle was found shortly after the discovery of Kazanceva’s body. It had severe windshield damage and had crashed into a concrete post.

The driver was later found and interviewed. It was determined the damage to the vehicle’s windshield was a result of airbags being deployed, police said.

Investigators said they are trying to piece together Kazanceva’s final moments by going door-to-door looking for witnesses and reviewing surveillance video.

cho@calgaryherald.com

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

Abbotsford chief favours regional police strategy

Bob Rich says Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley should have separate forces

BY ROCHELLE BAKER, ABBOTSFORD TIMES MARCH 24, 2013

Abbotsford Police Chief Bob Rich has come out in favour of some form of regional police force for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

Photograph by: GLENN BAGLO, PROVINCE

Abbotsford Police Chief Bob Rich has come out in favour of some form of regional police force for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

Delta Mayor Lois Jackson, who objects to the proposal, held a community forum last Wednesday to prompt more discussion around the issue with other civic leaders and police forces.

Rich, who attended the discussion, said cost efficiencies and a better way of policing need to be examined.

“Policing, like many government agencies, needs to take a good hard look at itself,” said Rich.

“The whole discussion of cost effectiveness of policing is something we need to pay attention to while still providing excellent service to the public.”

The call to amalgamate law enforcement within the Lower Mainland surfaces regularly.

However, the idea has gained momentum with Missing Women Inquiry commissioner Wally Oppal’s recent conclusion that a regional force would have limited the number of victims who fell prey to killer Robert Pickton.

Vancouver’s Mayor Gregor Robertson and the Vancouver Police Department have also openly backed the idea.

Oppal concluded a larger police force would facilitate communication between forces in different communities and eliminate the silo effect that occurs with multiple agencies, Rich said.

“My view is we need to take the long view and begin setting up policing for long-term success, and that means policing in a region with one brain operating a force’s response.”

Ultimately, the decision lies with politicians at both the municipal and provincial levels, noted Rich.

“Local governments have shown no enthusiasm for the idea of a regional force in my three decades of policing and I don’t know why that would change,” he said, adding mayors are reluctant to fund resources they don’t have any say over.

Jackson is arguing a local force can better practise the “no-call-is-too-small” policing philosophy, while Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts has expressed concern that Vancouver might monopolize resources of any regional entity.

Rich didn’t assume Abbotsford would be included or best served by a Metro Vancouver force.

“I would be inclined toward a Fraser Valley regional force. We are a distinct community from Metro Vancouver.”

Pointing to New York’s crime reduction successes, Rich noted a large agency could still effectively respond to smaller and localized police concerns.

Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman agreed it was worthwhile to at least explore the idea of a regional police force.

“I think we should look at it in a logical manner and see what serves the people best. There’s no such thing as a bad question,” said Banman.

Best practice would be to determine what gives citizens the best protection for the least amount of money, he said.

Taxpayers might gain from a police force that can take advantage of economies of scale.

“Lets have the facts speak for themselves,” Banman added.

“When people phone 911, I don’t think they care where police are located when [officers] are there when they need them.”

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun