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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Lawyer Argues Publishing Names in Richard Oland Murder Case Infringes on Rights of Innocents

Final arguments have been this afternoon on whether or not to release more information from the Richard Oland search warrants.

While the representatives of certain interested parties int he case called for a moratorium on the so-called "never-ending barrage" of media coverage, media lawyer David Coles tells CHSJ News enough will only be enough when the public is satisfied the police and judiciary have done their jobs.

A decision on whether to overturn the publication ban imposed by Chief Judge R. Leslie Jackson must be made within 6 months, but it's expected to take much less time than that.

Body Found In Car Near Smith's Creek

The Sussex RCMP are investigating the discovery of a body inside a vehicle  in the woods near the Carsonville Road in Smiths Creek.

Today shortly after 1:30 p.m. Sussex RCMP were called by a person working in the woods who came across an abandoned vehicle with a body inside.

The RCMP's Forensic Identification Section and Coroner's Office are assisting in the investigation.An autopsy will be performed.

Meth and Cash Seized at Drug Bust In Charleston

Methamphetamine and cash being seized at a home close to Florenceville-Bristol after police executed a search warrant. 

A 38-year-old man was arrested and then later released. He'll be making an appearance in court in connection with the drug bust.

Safety the Top Priority for Fertilizer Plant Says Norton

With Atlantic Potash talking about building a fertilizer production plant in McAllister Industrial Park, it's hard not to think about the issue of safety given the recent explosion at a fertilizer plant in West Texas that killed at least 14 people and injured more than 200. 

Mayor Mel Norton tells CHSJ News that plant had serious safety issues and that Saint John prides itself on complying with regulations. He says that safety is the top concern for any industrial facility.

Norton echoed statements made by councilor Ray Strowbridge, saying that even if a situation did arise, the emergency response team is well-equipped to handle it.



Court Hears Arguments To Release More Information On Oland Murder

Keeping information from the searches in the Richard Oland murder investigation sealed has been compared to George Orwell's novel "1984". That comparison being made by media lawyer David Coles.

He's arguing the names of those people searched should be broadcast and would not harm the investigation or their reputations. In any event, Coles says anyone with 90 dollars can buy copies of the search warrants and get the information about who was searched.


Coles has told the hearing we have a terrible situation where a prominent person has been murdered, no has been charged and maybe no ever will be arrested. He maintains there is legitimate public concern about why.
 

Coles maintains to keep the sealed information in the search warrants under wraps poses a greater risk to the administration of justice telling the court attempting to put genies back into bottles puts the justice system into disrepute.

Mark Pay It Forward Day With A Small Act Of Kindness

Whether it's paying for somebody's coffee or letting someone cut in front of you in line, small acts of kindness can have a big impact. 

That's the idea behind the Pay it Forward initiative, and the founder of Saint John's chapter, Michael Whelton, tells CHSJ News that if Saint Johners can band together and do good deeds for one another, it will make the city a better place to live. He tells us he believes that Saint John has the potential to become one of the kindest cities in the country.

Council declaring the week of April 22 to April 29 Pay it Forward Week in the city, while global Pay it Forward Day is coming up this Thursday. A flag raising event is planned for 8am that day on King Street
.

Woman Missing from West Saint John

The Saint John Police Force, Major Crime Unit, is looking for public assistance in locating a missing person.

Yeonhee Choi, 45 years old, was reported missing after leaving her residence on Prince Street, West Saint John on April 22nd, 2013 at 6:00 a.m.

She is described as being: 

Korean
Petite - 5'4" tall
Short dark hair (may be slightly darker now than in picture but same style)
Both ears have two piercings in them
Black or brown leather jacket waist length
Wearing black tights, black boots, which go about halfway up the calve of the leg
Dark or black knit style sweater, possibly carrying a black knapsack

The Saint John Police Force is asking anyone who has any information in relation to this missing person to contact the Saint John Police Force at 506-648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You can also provide information anonymously on the NB Crime Stoppers website: www.crimenb.ca

Video Leads To Arrest After An Assault

Rothesay Regional Police reporting an arrest has been made in the assault of an employee at Tim Horton's by a customer. 

On February 7th, 2013 a video was posted of the assault. That video generated several tips which resulted in the lead investigator identifying the suspect. 

A 48 year-old man is scheduled to appear in court on several charges.

Truck Destroyed By Fire Along Highway 1

Traffic is disrupted by a transport truck on fire along Highway one westbound just outside Sussex. 

The fire was reported between 6:30 and 7 this morning.

The Transport is pretty much a write off. Traffic had been disrupted but is now back to normal.

Thousands of Dollars Damage Caused By Stolen Front Loader

The RCMP in Oromocto looking for some help in finding whomever stole a front loader from a construction site near the new Highway 8 in Taymouth and caused thousands of dollars damage to highway road signs and blockades. 

At one point, a concrete barrier was lifted over an overpass and dropped on a secondary road below. The front loader was abandoned in the woods near Penniac. 

Police believe the front loader was stolen sometime between April 12th and the 14th.

Capital Region Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000.00 for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for this, or any other crime. 


You can contact the RCMP at 506-357-4300 or 1-888-506-RCMP (7267) or anonymously through Crime Stoppers online at crimenb.ca or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Vacant House Destroyed By Fire

A house fire early this morning destroying a vacant home on Ocean Drive. The blaze reported shortly after 4:00.  

Fire crews could see the flames burning away as they made their way to the fire. The house was fully ablaze and burned to the ground. 

Two other buildings that are close by were scorched. 7 people in the nearby homes had to be evacuated.


There had been a previous fire in the same vacant home recently.

Two people were sent to hospital after their car wound up on its side along Beacon Street yesterday afternoon. The two were trapped inside and the fire department had to get them out through the car's roof.

Food Trucks Can Operate On Private Property, Not City Streets

Saint Johners will soon be able to grab grub from restaurants on wheels, though the food trucks won't be parked on city streets.

Mayor Mel Norton says a bylaw needs to be changed before mobile vendors are allowed on the streets, and that won't happen by the summer. In the interim, they're letting local entrepreneurs know about privately-owned land they can lease. This way, businesses can get up and running when the hot weather hits.

Canadian franchise, Beavertails, will be parked on private property at the bottom of King Street this summer. Norton says they expect food trucks to be on the streets by the 2014 season.