630 CHED Edmonton News

Seeking justice for Geo

Tricia Kindleman — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:34:00 GMT

After waiting three anxious hours, 62 year old Richard Suter finally appeared in court via closed circuit tv earlier today.A bail hearing is now set for Thursday. Suter faces impaired driving causing death charges after an SUV that crashed into the patio Ric's Grill in Terwillegar, killing a two year old boy.

A family of four was dining at the restaurant when a vehicle accelerated forward into the patio pinning a two year boy to a wall. The father suffered rib and back injuries. But the mother and one year old child walked away with minor injuries.

A Facebook group has been created for the two year old called "Justice for Geo"

Photo courtesy of Justice for Geo Facebook group

The group had accumulated over 500 members over 9 hours and continues to grow.

Sage Morin, the mother of Geo, details the day and then the subsequent incident which took his life. Morin accuses the driver of "stumbling out of his vehicle, too drunk to even stand" Morin says she will update the group with information on any rallies and court appearances at the case goes forward. (tk/bg)

No fourth term for Mayor Mandel

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:13:00 GMT

After three terms, and nine years, it's time "to open up the door to new leadership."

Mayor Stephen Mandel confirmed the worst kept secret, that he won't seek re-election in October.

"I found myself the last little while tired or not, not doing the kind of things and having the ideas that kept my staff moving ahead and different things to do as I did the couple of years. I'm just getting tired, I need a rest."

Now 67, flanked by his wife Lynn, daughter Rachel, and probably more important, his grandson Chase, Mandel at times got emotional in saying good bye at the announcement at the Art Gallery of Alberta.

Mandel said a big change in city council over the last nine years was how city council has been able to listen to young people and shape policy in their vision.

"For too long we forgot them and they moved away, and they decided to go to other places, and now we're beginning to attract them back, and that's one of the priorities council has had," Mandel told reporters.

"I always used the phrase, 'the good enough people', they had too large a voice before," Mandel said of the citizens who complained about visionary projects like the Art Gallery, or the downtown arena, who were more interested in only fixing what we've got like cracked sidewalks or pot holes.

"Those people were the ones that wanted to hold us back. I think the younger generation have come forward whether it's on the arena, whether it's on subdividing lots, whether it's on any number of issues, they have tremendous influence on our council, I can't speak about the future, we listen to them because this is a city for them, for their tomorrow and so they have a fantastic opportunity to build their city, having their input."

Tuesday's announcement comes more than a month after the original plan, where Mandel was supposed to say his intentions at the State of the City Address.

There he instead expressed concern with the province over the budget cuts made, especially to the University of Alberta and other post secondary institutions in Edmonton that he said were the engine of the economy.

"I've talked to the Premier about it and she's assured me that they're going to have a broader vision and move forward on that so I'm confident that they'll find a solution."

Mandel got choked up thanking former Premier Ed Stelmach, calling him a great visionary, and the best premier the province has had.

He said he was going to make the announcement this past Thursday, only to postpone it until after the long weekend because the arena deal did get done. He said he owed it to the others who are thinking of entering the race.

Karen Leibovici, Don Iveson and Amarjeet Sohi have expressed interest in the job.

Kerry Diotte is the only one to announce his campaign so far.

October 21 is election day. September 23 is nomination day, when the race becomes official.(sj/tk)

Emotional morning in court after weekend crash kills 2 year old boy

Tricia Kindleman — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:50:00 GMT

A 62-year-old man will be in court this morning after a deadly crash on a restaurant patio Sunday night.

Richard Suter was expected at 9 am but his hearing was bumped to 10:30 after an emotion filled morning at the courthouse.

Photo courtesy of Jenna Bridges, Global News

Police say a two-year-old boy, now identified as Geo, died in hospital after he and his family were struck by a van on the patio of Rick's Grill in Terwillegar.

Police say Suter was behind the wheel, and refused to provide a breathalzyer sample to officers.

He's now charged with impaired driving causing death, and two counts of impaired driving causing injury.

Reports indicate the SUV was put in to drive rather than reverse. Suter also may have been effected by an alleged dispute with his spouse. (ms/tk)

Vicitm of Jeep demonstrastion accident identified

Tricia Kindleman — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:23:00 GMT

EPS are continuing to investigate what went wrong at a local fundraiser that took a fatal turn.

The Jeeps go Topless day was being held Saturday at Oliver Square and during a climbing demonstration a Jeep unexpectedly rolled crushing a 20 year old woman.

The victim has now been identified as Melinda Green, an architecture student who was engaged to be married next May.

Photo courtesy of Global News

In a statement to Global News Sarina St Germaine, the event organizer, says they "take safety very seriously" and “at no time did anyone associated with the demonstration feel there was imminent danger."

View photos of the incident and memorial here.

(tk/global)

Developing - Multiple Stabbing West Central Edmonton

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:20:00 GMT

Two men were stabbed and three others have an assortment of injuries after a violent and bizarre incident in west central Edmonton early Tuesday.

Police were called to an apartment building near 124th Street and 115th Avenue minutes after four. They found one man with blood on him and were told a second had been stabbed but had left the scene in a vehicle. Paramedics determined victim one had been stabbed in the central chest. He was rushed to the Royal Alexandra Trauma Centre. A second wounded man, bleeding from the neck, showed up at a gas station a few blocks away. Both have serious injuries.

While investigating the stabbings, police found a crashed car and three individuals with a combination of less serious injuries either from the collision or from the stabbing incident.

Are three terms enough for Mayor Mandel?

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:59:00 GMT

With the City of Edmonton now building on all fronts, it remains to be seen if Mayor Stephen Mandel is satisfied enough to let go.

After taking over the top job back in 2004 by defeating three-term mayor, Bill Smith, Mandel is now apparently set to announce if he will shoot for a fourth term as mayor himself.

The 67-year-old changed his mind at the last minute back in early April about announcing his decision, but has now scheduled a news conference for 11am, Tuesday, at the Art Gallery of Alberta.

Mandel has been sitting on city council for 12 years, nine of those as mayor.

He's been pushing to spread out the LRT in three new directions, along with turning the downtown airport into a massive inner-city neighbourhood next to a new arena and entertainment district. (td)

Charges laid in deadly Ric's Grill patio crash

Morgan Smith — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:47:00 GMT

Police are laying charges in the death of a little boy on a restaurant patio Sunday night.

EPS says 62-year-old Richard Suter was behind the wheel of the van that crashed into a family of four while they dined. It happened at Ric's Grill in Terwillegar.

Once bystanders had pushed the van off the patio, the family was rushed to hospital, where the boy died of his wounds. Only the mother escaped physical injury.

Police say that alcohol may be a factor in the crash, and allege Suter refused to give a breathalyzer sample at the scene.

He faces several impaired driving charges, including impaired operation causing death.

Suter is remanded in custody until his court date at 9:00am Tuesday morning.

Photo: Global News

The staff members at Ric's Grill in Terwilligar grieve for the family hit by the van that crashed into their restaurant.

Ric's Manager, Sean Zarney says he was there when it happened.

Zarney says the patrons kept the driver a safe distance away until paramedics and police arrived, because there was some anger.

Ric's closed Victoria Day. They have not decided when they will re-open.

(ms, bl, bg)

Victoria Day not just a day off work

Jennah Stavroff — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

Picnics, parades and fireworks have marked celebrations across the country this weekend just as they did over 100 years ago for some of the first Victoria Day celebrations.

Originally celebrating the birthday of Queen Victoria we now celebrate the birth of the ruling monarch.

The prime minister’s office has released his official statement wishing the queen health and happiness and encouraging citizens to celebrate the unique and historic ties that connect us with the UK

The May celebration of the royal family has been a Canadian tradition for the past 169 years -predating confederation.

This year two groups are lobbying for changes around the holiday- one wants Canada’s "first peoples" added to the day’s official name and the other wants ties with the Monarch severed in favour of becoming a proper republic.

The first group made up of Canadian celebrities is lobbying for the holiday to be renamed to include reference to aboriginals. The group _ which includes author Margaret Atwood, Green Party leader Elizabeth May, and actor Gordon Pinsent -has signed an online petition to rename the holiday ``Victoria and First Peoples Day.''

The other group-Citizens for a Canadian Republic- are using the occasion to lobby for separating from the monarchy. They say while there may be some interest in the royal family as celebrities recent polls show Canadians wants an elected head of state. (js)

Pedestrian killed early Monday

Jennah Stavroff — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:27:00 GMT

An incident this morning has led to what is at least the 9th motor vehicle involved death in the province for the long weekend.

Edmonton Police say they were called to the scene a little after 1am to find a 26-year old man lying on the road near 178 Street and 64 Avenue.

It's believed the man ran into southbound lanes of 178 Street, before being struck by a Volvo driven by a 17-year old. No charges have been laid.

Since Friday there have been a number of roll-overs, two car ccollisions and off road vehicle deaths around the province- as well as a freak jeep accident in the city on Saturday and a crash that killed a toddler last night. (js)

Government says changes on the way for first nations females

Jennah Stavroff — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:25:00 GMT

Local M-P Rona Ambrose says the government is focusing on aboriginal issues- especially for vulnerable women.

Ambrose says the government is working hard on bill s-2 that would give on reserve women the same property rights as other Canadians.

Ambrose made the comments while in town this past week announcing 200-thousand dollars for a pilot project on healthy relationships for young aboriginal girls in the north. (js)