Shafia – Appeal

A father, mother and son convicted of murdering the couple’s three daughters and another family member at Kingston Mills are asking for new trials.

Mohammad Shafia, his wife Tooba Yahya and their son Hamed argue their original trial was tainted by “highly prejudicial” testimony on so-called honour killings.

Their lawyers argued yesterday before Ontario’s highest court in Toronto…that testimony from a Crown expert on so-called honour killings should not have been allowed and was among several errors the trial judge made.

The bodies of Shafia and Yahya’s daughters _ Zainab, 19, Sahar, 17, and Geeti, 13 _ and Shafia’s first wife in a polygamous marriage, 52-year-old Rona Amir Mohammad, were found in a car at the bottom of the Kingston Mills Lock in June of 2009.

The lawyer for Hamed Shafia says he deserves a new trial because evidence has come forward to show he was 17 at the time of the murders in 2009 and should not have been tried in an adult court.

Queen’s Grad Pleads Guilty

A Queen’s grad has agreed to pay back the money he stole from a student club and give Kingston’s court diversion program a one thousand dollar donation.

23 year old Bafode Fadiga has been president of Queen’s Social Investment Initiative Club.

He used over 18 thousand dollars in club money to pay for everything from food to rent.

He pleaded guilty to fraud earlier this week and has repaid the money.

He was given an absolute discharge.

401 Shut Down

The closure of the 401 eastbound has renewed the debate over the third crossing and has people asking why the highway had to be closed during busy daytime traffic.

A big rig was removed from a deep ditch along the eastbound 401 yesterday and the highway was re-opened to traffic by around 3:00 P.m. Thursday.

The closure created traffic gridlock on Division Street and through downtown Kingston as transport drivers tried to avoid the lengthy detour route up Montreal Street to Sunbury and back down Highway 15 to the 401.

Unsafe Ice

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority says dam operators have been preparing for the spring thaw by increasing flows.

It says that means cold, fast moving water and it is advising the public that current ice conditions are very poor.

It says the unusual weather that we’ve received this winter has necessitated more dam operations than usual. It says not only is the ice dangerous…there are also areas of open water.

Fishing Derby

The Kingston and District Fish and Game Club says the annual kids fishing derby at the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour will have to be cancelled if it can’t find someone to run the derby.

It has attracted up to 700 kids over the past 16 years.

The fish and game club says it can’t handle organizing the event because of a dwindling membership.

If you can help – Information on how to contact the club is on its website.

 

www.kingstonfishandgame.ca.