News « K106.3

Take Blackburn Radio News With You

Thomson Murder Verdict

April 2, 2012 at 9:46 pm

A 44 year old man has been found guilty of murdering a 70 year old woman in her Petrolia home when he was just 15 years old. After 6 hours of deliberation yesterday, an 8 man 4 woman jury convicted the man of first degree murder and aggravated sexual assault in the stabbing death of Velma Thomson in October 1983. The Crown is seeking to have the man sentenced as an adult. The verdict at 7:15 Monday night at Sarnia courthouse brought a 7 week trial to a close. The convicted man can not be named because he was just 15 when the crime occurred 28 years ago. The Crown however is making application for an adult sentence. Co-defense Counsel David Stoesser says youth provisions have a mandatory penalty of 6 years of custody followed by 4 years of community supervision.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

When polled 11 of the 12 jurors recommended 7 years. Legal arguments will be heard May 11th and a date for a sentencing hearing will be set. Police arrested the man in Owen Sound in June 2008. He had lived in Petrolia as a teen in the vicinity of Velma Thomson’s Kerby Street home. The Crown’s case relied on a thumbprint and DNA evidence linking the man to the crime scene.

Robbery Suspect at Large

April 2, 2012 at 3:06 pm

Sarnia Police are investigating a robbery that occurred just after 6pm Sunday in the area of London and Murphy.

Police say a 61 year old woman’s purse was taken while she was putting items in the back of her vehicle.

The male suspect, between the ages of 16 and 18, fled toward the residential section of Afton Court.

The woman was not hurt during the incident, her purse was recovered but her black wallet is still missing.

The suspect is described as about 5 foot 8, with a thin build, olive coloured skin with a thin, pointy nose and concave face. He was wearing a brown hoody with a dark ball cap, dark blue jeans and running shoes.

If you have any information regarding this incident, you’re urged to call Sarnia Police or Crimestoppers.

Pathways Honours Sarnia Rotary Club

April 2, 2012 at 2:15 pm

The newest $4.2 million dollar expansion at the Pathways Health Centre for Children is now known as the Rotary Children’s Place Wing.

A plaque unveiling was held at the Murphy Road building this afternoon.

The plaque is in recognition of Rotary’s 600 thousand dollar lead donation to the project and continued support of the youth organization since the late 1920′s.

Pathways Executive Director Jenny Greensmith is pleased.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The expansion project was made possible with $1.2 million in senior government funding.

The $3 million dollar community campaign began in 2010 and over $2.5 million has been raised so far.