Hello there!

As of late last week we have a conclusion in one of the most prominent court cases the Westshore has seen recently. Today's newsletter also includes updates on several major crashes that took place in recent days.

Not all the news is heavy, though: Today in Around the ‘Shore there are also several updates on local organizations receiving funding to help people. And stick around until the end of the newsletter to see some fine feathered friends in today's reader photos.

— Cam

NEWS

Langford man found not criminally responsible for killing mother over Christmas 2021

A trial by a judge has ruled that Ryan Elder, now 30, was in a state of psychosis when he stabbed and strangled his mother Raymonde. Justice Jennifer Power ultimately agreed with the testimony of forensic psychiatrists who concluded that Ryan was experiencing schizophrenic delusions during and before the killing. These, the two experts believe, caused him to believe she was attacking him, conspiring against him, harming him, being an imposter, and even welcoming her death.

The Crown and some family members disagreed with this assessment and argued that though Ryan does have a major mental illness, he was not under delusions when he killed Raymonde, with whom he was living.

Son confessed to the killing; the trial was about the state of mind

Per the Crown prosecutor, police said that Ryan confessed to the crime after several days of living in the home with his mother's body, which was discovered on a New Year's Eve wellness check. They said that his reasons shifted, however, ranging from longstanding resentment over her authority over him to claims it was self-defence or even a “mercy killing.”

The Crown argued that Ryan resented his mother and had sought to retroactively establish himself as psychosis-driven, citing in part the fact that the interviews establishing his psychosis were conducted well after the killing and that an initial interview did not assess him as clearly under psychosis at the time.

Original trial was expanded to address psychosis aspect

The second-degree murder trial was expanded earlier this year to assess this question of mental state and criminal responsibility. In the initial trial in early Jan., neither Ryan nor his lawyers spoke in his defence. Justice Power chose to reopen the trial and have the defence make their case that he was not criminally responsible—a case they had planned to make after an initial trial decision from Power.

Per the crown prosecutor, police said that Ryan told them in 2021 that he killed his mother Raymonde by stabbing her, after trying to strangle her.

Ryan had a history of mental health problems and had stopped taking his medication.

An upcoming review process will determine if Ryan will be held in a treatment facility (the more likely option) or released with treatment conditions.

Victim remembered by family & friends

Raymonde was remembered, in a GoFundMe to help her family with the funeral and other costs, as a “kind and generous soul" who played for many years on the Victoria Scottish Women's soccer team alongside her sister and sister-in-law.

Her siblings, who came with her from Scotland to Canada in 1967, have described her as kind, gentle, generous, funny, and able to light up a room.

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NEWS

Multiple major crashes in recent days; Transit bus & cement truck involved

Crash between bus & car on Sooke Road between Sooke and Langford/Colwood backed up traffic for part of Monday morning. The Hyundai driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and the BC Transit driver was unharmed. 

Last week Sooke Road was blocked on Friday after a cement truck and BMW collided. Cement had to be removed from the vehicle by another truck so that it could be moved and the road could be unblocked. RCMP said the bus driver was unhurt and the BMW driver had non-life-threatening injuries.

A multi-vehicle crash on Wednesday closed most lanes of the highway until well into the night near 6 Mile and left two drivers with life-threatening injuries per RCMP.

Dashcam footage posted to Reddit shows a car crossing the central grassy median in the wet weather. Witnesses said that this southbound vehicle hit a northbound one, which then spun and hit others. Police have been seeking more dashcam footage and witnesses.

A traffic expert told CHEK last weekend that the grassy dip did not stop crossover as well as intended, and that a cable median could provide more of a barrier. But he said, too, that this stretch is not as in need of a safety upgrade as other parts of the Trans-Canada including the Malahat near Goldstream Park, which he called “probably the most substandard section” in the country.

Around the 'Shore

🤝 Royal Roads gets $678K from PacifiCAN to partner with Westshore municipalities and First Nations on economic development that “increases regional supply chain benefits, promotes knowledge sharing, and attracts investment to the community.” [Release]

🚧 Highway 1 bus transit infrastructure work will have “minor traffic impacts” as of this Thursday for the off-ramp to Old Island Highway at the Colwood Interchange and some stoppages on the nearby Goose.

🚒 Sooke Fire Rescue gets $28K for new hoses & racks through the province & UBCM's Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF). 

🇺🇦 Langford-based fundraising group makes 4th trip to Ukraine: Vancouver Island Supports Ukraine surpassed its $11K goal to help a children's hospital, school transportation, municipal services, and diesel generators for schools and bomb shelters. [Goldstream Gazette]

📰 Last week: Langford seeks input on transportation, parks, trails, & rec at Ideas Fair. Unicycle crash. Sports facilities survey. [Newsletter]

Community Events

🏒 Victoria Grizzlies host Chilliwack Chiefs tonight at Q Centre and Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Saturday. [Tickets] 

📋 View Royal Council meeting today including Draft Financial Plan. [Agenda]

🥣 Open Table Dinner Series with Hide N Seek & Flourish BeauTea in Langford. A showcase of Asian comfort food alongside specialty beverages and pastries. [Friday 6pm]

🧘‍♀️ Yoga & exercise classes Tuesday-Thursday at Shirley Community Hall.

🚔 West Shore RCMP Town Hall on Thursday.

🌳 Roots & Renewal Wellness Market at Langford Station this weekend. 11-4pm both days

💐🧼🌱 Westshore Town Centre workshops:

• Create paper floral arrangenents [All ages, Wednesday at 1pm].

• Make your own soaps in various shapes, scents, and colours [Kids 7-13, Friday 1pm].

• Family-friendly seed-starting workshop [Sunday 1pm].

What’s Offshore?

🚢 🚢 Off Colwood coast: San Diego Bridge, a container ship built in 2010, sailing Tacoma to Vancouver under Panama flag 🇵🇦 . HL Taean, a bulk carrier built in 2016 sailing from Yeosu Anchorage (Korea) under Panama flag 🇵🇦.

🚢 Moving on: Mol Premium, a container ship built in 2008, sailing Tacoma to Vancouver under Panama flag 🇵🇦 .

🚢🚢 Further out: TS Hong Kong, a container ship built in 2024 sailing from Prince Rupert to Cavan Constance Bank under a Marshall Islands flag 🇲🇭. MSC Siya B, a container ship built in 2018 sailing from Roberts Bank to Seattle under Portugal flag 🇵🇹.

If you take a photo of a ship off of the coast, we're always happy to include it.

Westshore Snaps

Bathtime for Great Blue Heron. – Gary Woodburn

“The Eagles have landed! Dad is high on tree watching out Mom is in the nest Royal Colwood Golf course.” – Glenys Pumfrey, Colwood

As spring continues, we're starting to see more birds out and about. Send us some of the most beautiful or interesting birds you've seen in the Westshore, either recently or in the past, and we'll feature a few of the best.

That’s it!

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