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

BC Ferries picks Netherlands-based company to build four more hybrid-electric ships

BC Ferries has awarded a contract to build four new hybrid-electric vessels to be ready to sail by 2027. The ferry corporation says in a statement that the contract has gone to Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Group, the same company that built its last six ferries in the same Island Class of double-ended hybrid ships.

BC Ferries picks Netherlands-based company to build four more hybrid-electric ships

Notley says she'll step down from Alberta NDP helm to make way for fresh voices

Former premier Rachel Notley, after almost a decade at the helm of Alberta’s NDP, is stepping down from the top job. Notley, the official Opposition leader, said a leadership race will be called and she will stay on as leader until a replacement is chosen.

Notley says she'll step down from Alberta NDP helm to make way for fresh voices

Small cabinet shuffle in BC

A small cabinet shuffle in B-C has promoted Victoria's Grace Lore to the post of minister of children and family development. Premier David Eby announced the previous children's minister, Mitzi Dean, will now be the minister of state for child care.

Small cabinet shuffle in BC

Day after Trump win in Iowa, Trudeau says U.S. faces choice between optimism, retreat

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says voters in the United States will face a choice later this year between optimism for the future or nostalgia for a past that never existed. Trudeau made the comments in Montreal today to a business crowd in reference to Donald Trump's victory Monday in the Iowa Republican caucuses, which gives the former president an early lead for the Republican nomination ahead of the November election.

Day after Trump win in Iowa, Trudeau says U.S. faces choice between optimism, retreat

YVR says traffic at pre-COVID levels

Vancouver International Airport says traffic forecasts for mid-January show passenger numbers have almost completely recovered to pre-pandemic levels. YVR says it is expecting just over 420-thousand passengers from January 15th to the 21st, just short of the 2019 figure of almost 426-thousand.

YVR says traffic at pre-COVID levels

More than 100 wildfires still not considered out after B.C.'s record wildfire season

More than 100 wildfires are still listed as burning in British Columbia thanks to a combination of a busy wildfire season, extreme drought and generally warmer and drier conditions through December. Forrest Tower of the BC Wildfire Service said that while it's not uncommon for some fires to burn through the winter, that number usually hovers around a couple dozen, not the 106 that were listed as active on New Year's Day.