National

Man who attacked B.C. transit attendant sentenced to 10 years in prison

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 May, 2024 04:00 PM

A man who attacked a SkyTrain attendant in New Westminster, B.C., in 2021 has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

A statement from Metro Vancouver Transit Police says 29-year-old Howard Geddes Skelding was found guilty of one count each of assault causing bodily harm and forcible confinement.

Police say Geddes Skelding followed the attendant as she entered an employee room, then exposed himself, punched her in the stomach and shoved her to the ground.

The woman was able to fight off the attacker while calling for help and then managed to escape.

Transit police Const. Amanda Steed says they commend the attendant for her "strength and tenacity" in fighting attacker, and extend their gratitude to the Crown for securing a meaningful sentence.

The man was arrested at the scene by Transit Police and has been held in custody since the the attack.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Robots Tarzan and Jane, aided by AI, take over repetitive tasks at B.C. hospital lab

Far from the jungle, Tarzan and Jane swing quietly into action in a sterile laboratory at St. Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver. They are robots that work with artificial intelligence to handle and process up to 70 per cent of the hospital's microbiology samples. The pair unscrew specimen tubes and streak the samples onto bacterial culture plates in the new $1-million automated WASPLab, short for "walk-away specimen processor."

Robots Tarzan and Jane, aided by AI, take over repetitive tasks at B.C. hospital lab

Ali's lawyers fear dead girl's dad, as police probe claim he brought gun to court

The father of a murdered 13-year-old girl has been under police investigation for allegedly bringing a gun into a Vancouver courtroom on the day that Ibrahim Ali was convicted of the killing, the man's lawyer has told a hearing. Lawyers for Ali are refusing to show up to court for post-trial proceedings citing safety concerns about the man, who can't be named because of a publication ban on the identity of the murdered girl.

Ali's lawyers fear dead girl's dad, as police probe claim he brought gun to court

Man faces seven charges after Edmonton City Hall shooting

Police say a man is facing seven charges after shots were fired and a Molotov cocktail was thrown at Edmonton City Hall. The alleged offences include arson, possessing incendiary materials and discharging a firearm into a building.

Man faces seven charges after Edmonton City Hall shooting

Be on lookout for car thief

Kelowna R-C-M-P are asking residents to be on the lookout for a man suspected of trying to defraud multiple car dealerships. Police say a dealership recently reported that the suspect had produced four driver's licences showing different names with the same identification photo.

Be on lookout for car thief

Charges approved in Guildford stabbing

Metro Vancouver Transit Police say charges have been approved after a stabbing that left a teenager with serious wounds requiring emergency surgery. Police say it happened last July when the teenager and his girlfriend had a brief altercation with two males at the Guildford Mall in Surrey before they got on a bus.

Charges approved in Guildford stabbing

Record number of people died from illicit drugs in B.C. last year, coroner says

British Columbia's chief coroner says 2,511 people died of suspected illicit drug poisoning last year, the highest annual toll ever recorded. Close to 14,000 people have died since the province declared a public health emergency in April 2016, Lisa Lapointe told a news conference on Wednesday.