The South Etobicoke News

Serving Humber * Mimico * Lakeshore Village * Long Branch * Alderwood

Men sought by police for violent assaults on the TTC subway

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SUSPECT sought by police for June 17 assault of man at Victoria Park subway station. Police photo.

SUSPECT THREE wanted by police for allegedly assaulting Asian Canadians. He is at large. Police photo.

SECOND suspect sought by police for a stabbing at the Royal York subway station. He has since been arrested. Toronto Police photo.

Another violent suspect is being sought by Toronto Police for two assaults against innocent riders using the TTC subway system.

Police are seeking the public’s help to nab a suspect sought for the June 17 assault of a man that occurred around 7 p.m. at the Victoria Park Subway station.

“The victim, while waiting for the train to arrive, was approached by the suspect who assaulted him, knocking him to the ground,” police said in a press release.

Detectives said later that day the suspect allegedly assaulted a woman.

“It is alleged that he approached and sexually assaulted a woman while she was waiting for a train,” according to police.

The suspect is described as male with a thin build, 5’7″ – 5’9,” moustache and a chin beard wearing an oversized blue jacket with a red baseball cap. The man was in the possession of a black mountain bike and carrying a brown duffel bag.

Police have released a photograph of a suspect and anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-4100.

It was only last month when police charged a man in connection with a stabbing that took place at the Royal York Subway station that left a man, in his 30s, with multiple stab wounds.

Police were called to the station just before 4 p.m.  Police say two men got on a train at Islington Subway station.

The men then got in a verbal altercation and one of the men stabbed the victim several times. The victim was hospitalized in critical condition.

The suspect got off the train at Royal York Subway station and fled the area.

The accused has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon dangerous to public peace, according to a release issued Saturday.

He is before the courts.

Also sought is a suspect, who is wanted by police for a string of suspected hate crimes last April at various subway stations, including Lansdowne, Christie and Islington, in which Asian Canadians were spat on, or called racial names.

He is still at large.

AMATEUR SPORTS: Local talent Angus MacDonell has one of his hockey dreams come true

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Etobicoke’s ANGUS MacDonell is well on his way to becoming a top hockey prospect. Courtesy photo.

By CRAIG CHRISTIE

The 2021 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection took place June 4-5, with 299 players selected from 83 different teams across Ontario and parts of the U.S.

For Etobicoke resident Angus MacDonell it was another step toward his ultimate goal of playing professional hockey. MacDonell was selected in the first round, 13th overall by the Sarnia Sting which set off a huge celebration at his home. “We were set up in my backyard with some family. I heard my name called and everyone went crazy,” he said. “Being drafted was one of my goals and something I will never forget.”

“He is a player that we targeted in this draft,” said Sting General Manager Dylan Seca. “A skilled two-way centre that our fans will really enjoy watching on the ice.”

For the past seven years, MacDonell was a member of the Toronto Marlboros organization which had 14 players taken in the draft; three in the first round. “It shows how dominant they have been over the years and how great a program they are to produce so many players. It’s an unreal program with great people but unreal coaches.” In his final year with the Marlboros U15 AAA team he scored 23 goals with 9 assists in 27 games but acknowledges he still has a lot of work to do. “I’d like to work on being able to cut in and out of checks and come out of the boards with ease and continue to work on my shot so that I can be an elite scorer at the next level.”

With the draft out of the way, the 5’10” centre’s focus is on getting bigger, stronger, faster and improving all aspects of his game so that he can make the Sting’s opening night roster. This includes working out every day in the gym, shooting pucks in his backyard, and watching and analyzing NHL games to see what he can incorporate into his game.

An offensive-minded player, MacDonell likes to make plays in the offensive and defensive zone. In fact, he prides himself on his ability to play “a 200 ft. game,” patterned after NHL players he admires such as Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) and Mathew Barzal (New York Islanders).

Along with being an exceptional hockey player, MacDonell has been playing lacrosse in Mimico since he was only three and it has played a significant role in his development as a hockey player. The long lacrosse season gives him the opportunity to be in top cardio shape for the shorter shifts in hockey and he believes the aggressive play and hand-eye coordination from that sport will only work to his advantage on the ice.

As a first-round pick MacDonell is aware of the high expectations and he is excited and looking forward to heading to Sarnia and being a part of the community. The Sting have already started to put things in place to make his transition from Etobicoke seamless. This includes the billeting process of finding a host family he will live with and enrolling him in a local high school.

And what can the fans in Sarnia expect from him? “They can anticipate a player that’s going to come out every night and go 100% and hopefully score some goals, do what the fans want and put on a show.”

 

From The Bench By Retired Judge Lloyd Budzinski

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Virtual Ontario Police Memorial Service held yearly to honour police on May 2. Courtesy photo.

 

Here are some thoughts. Reasonable doubt was originally intended to increase conviction rates. Around the 15th century according to the historian Whitman, the English took over God’s job of ‘Judging’ crime. Before that it was ‘Trial by Ordeal’.  If you survived drowning or burning you were innocent because God – the Judge — had saved you.

This new judging job had its headaches — the fate of those who sat in judgment was at stake.

Jurors had to fear vengeance from the convict’s relatives. There were also religious reasons.  The Bible, in 19 Deuteronomy, the part we think of as ‘an eye for an eye‘, also deals with false witness.  It means, that if someone falsely alleges that “X” committed a murder, then the liar should face the same penalty as ‘X’.

Secondly, convicting an innocent defendant was regarded, in the older Christian tradition, as a potential mortal sin. The reasonable doubt rule developed in response to this possibility. It was originally a theological doctrine, intended to reassure jurors that they could convict the defendant without risking their own salvation.

It excluded absolute certainty; instead, used a moral certainty as the standard.

Today, Judges tell Juries that ‘Reasonable Doubt is not a far-fetched or frivolous doubt.  It is not a doubt based on sympathy or prejudice.  It is based on reason and common sense.

The doubt arises from the evidence or the lack of it as it relates to the essential elements of the offence …. It is not enough for you to believe that the accused is probably or likely guilty.  In that case, you must find him not guilty.

The Criminal standard of Reasonable Doubt falls much closer to absolute certainty, than  proof on a ‘balance of probabilities’ as in Civil Trials (51% certain). The Judge determines the law and the Jury, the facts.

A crime requires two factors: a law-breaking event, the Actus Reus and a criminal intent, a Mens Rea. Murder or manslaughter requires the act of killing, an Actus Reus, a homicide.  Homicide simply means that someone killed someone.  It is not a crime by itself.  Whether a homicide is a murder or manslaughter depends on intent — an intentional, unintentional, negligent killing, a reaction to a provocation, duress and such.

If you lack an operating mind you could lack a criminal  intent,  be acting under a delusion and end with a “Not Guilty Because of Insanity”.

Juries like to compromise. Manslaughter is an included and lesser offence of murder.  Juries find the facts from the evidence; thus, the verdict. A Jury has a  choice. They need not explain their decision. They are empathetic and often, faced with a choice between a murder, manslaughter, they often choose manslaughter by deciding the intent of the accused.

This inclination for compromise or empathy became apparent when hanging was abolished. The conviction rate for murder increased. Before that, juries opted for manslaughter. The 15-century guys were right, reduce the responsibility and you increase conviction rates.  But be careful of going too far.  We could reduce the test for guilt to the Civil Law standard —  a balance of probabilities. It would  reduce the chance of the guilty getting away but would cause more innocent people being convicted.…oops!  A law is like an aspirin; not perfect; it can cure a headache but may cause internal bleeding.

In Floyd, the Jury had several choices, assuming he caused the death.  It depended on interpreting Chauvin’s intent . Sometimes empathy for the accused encourages a Jury to view the intention as more accidental – a manslaughter.  Clearly, Chauvin drew no empathy.

In the Latimer Case, a farmer killed his teenage daughter.  She had severe cerebral palsy, functioned as a four-month-old, suffered chronic pain, couldn’t walk, talk or feed herself. Latimer maintained her pain was unbearable. Latimer killed Tracy in 1993 using exhaust fumes from a truck.  Recently, he maintained with the CBC, “The harm I caused by her death would have been less than the pain inflicted by her life”. He claimed innocence as a mercy killer. I believe, had he called evidence  indicating he was under unbearable stress he would have been found guilty of the lesser offence of Manslaughter – less specific intent.  He was wrong in law, ‘mercy killing’ is not a defense.  He stood on his principles, leaving the Jury with no choice.

So, justice wins for Floyd.  Destiny was in the hands of 12 Jurors.  Notwithstanding, our systems aren’t

perfect – It took a thousand  years to evolve the Jury System  yet  it remains the best of all possibilities.

ANSWER TO LAST MONTHS SENTENCE: I sentenced him to 2 yeas less a day to be served in his home followed by 3 years’ probation.

Judge Lloyd Budzinski retired after 28 years and was a former Crown Attorney, Defence Counsel and Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Criminal Law. He was a Chief Prosecutor in the high profile trial of ex-RCMP officer Patrick Michael Kelly, who was found guilty of murder for throwing his wife from a 17 th floor balcony n March 1981.

 

 

Cloverdale Mall to open Monday for residents to obtain COVID-19 vaccines

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COVID vaccines from April 12 will be available at Cloverdale Mall. Appointment required.

City officials say a mass vaccination clinic will open at Cloverdale Mall starting on Monday April 12.

Cloverdale is one of nine mass vaccination sites run by the City of Toronto. Six are already open.

Health officials said walk-in appointments are not being accepted at this time.

People age 60 or older can book vaccination appointments online or by phone for City-run COVID-19 immunization clinics and some health partner clinics.

Starting Friday, April 9, residents age 50 and older in high-risk areas as identified by postal code will be able to book vaccine appointments at City-run clinics.

The City is currently vaccinating residents born in 1961 and earlier at these City-operated mass immunization clinics: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto Congress Centre, Scarborough Town Centre, Malvern Community Recreation Centre, Mitchell Field Arena and The Hangar.

On April 12, the City will open the final three City-operated vaccination clinics at Cloverdale Mall, North Toronto Memorial Community Centre and Carmine Stefano Community Centre.

You can book an appointment by calling 1-888-999-6488 (TTY 1-866-797-0007).

If you need a ride? Visit torontoride.ca or call 416-481-5250.

To date, 684,809 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Toronto.

From Monday April 12 to Friday April 16, emergency child care services will be available at no cost to eligible families who qualify as essential workers, and who are not able to accommodate their school-aged child’s care at home.

Go Fund Me campaign raise more than $12,000 to help bury man killed in drive by shooting

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TWO gunmen sought for the murder of Habil Hassan and wounding another man.

HABIL HASSAN had everything to live for, but someone wanted him dead. CBC photos.

More than $12,000 has been raised in days in a Go Fund Me campaign to help with the burial of an Etobicoke man who was shot to death earlier this month.

Habil Hassan, 21, was shot and killed on April 3, while his friend survived after they were shot while driving in a car in the Scarlett Road area around 5:40 p.m.

Police said another vehicle pulled up alongside them and at least two suspects opened fire on their vehicle, striking Hassan and the other occupant.

The victims pulled off the road and dialed 911.

Hassan was rushed to hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced dead, while his accomplice suffered non-life threatening gunshot injuries.

“Habil and a friend were both shot inside their car in a drive-by shooting,” wrote campaign organizer Ramsay B, of Etobicoke. “We are all devastated by Habil’s loss and this incident has shaken his family and the community.”

“Habil was always known for his radiant smile and the genuine care he had for those around him,” according to his eulogy. “He will be missed deeply, and remembered as the beautiful, loving, enthusiastic and caring young man that he was.”

“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn a life that was taken so young, but one that has not left in vain,” his friends wrote on social media.
The organizers said the funds raised will help “his family lay his body to rest,” and help with the cost of funeral arrangements.

A donation will be made in honour of Hassan towards the construction of a school, orphanage and feeding of those less fortunate in Africa.

Homicide officers said the two suspects believed to be involved in the shooting then crashed their car into another vehicle at the corner of Scarlett and Dixon Roads and fled the scene on foot.

Suspect number 1 is described as male, black, 20-25 years, wearing a dark coat and dark pants.
Suspect number 2 is described as male, black, 20-25 years, wearing light coloured jeans and a light blue surgical mask.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or  Google Play.

Women being warned of west-end pervert who stalks females in bathroom stalls

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CALL police if you see this man.

Toronto Police are hot on the trail of a west-end pervert.

Officers from 11 Division are warning area residents of a man who was caught taking cell phone photos of a woman using a bathroom stall.

Detectives said the incident occurred on March 22 around 5:35 p.m., when an 18-year-old woman was at The Crossroads Plaza, in the Bloor St. and Dundas St. W.

“She went into the women’s washroom and entered a stall,” police said in a public safety alert. “There was another person next to her in another stall and unbeknownst to her the other occupant was a man.”

Police said “a cellphone was held under that stall walls to record her.”

“She acted in surprise and the man ran away,” according to the alert.

Security images of the suspect has been released.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.

Former Hamilton teacher and ex Blue Jays’ instructor charged for offences against children

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A former Hamilton teacher and Toronto Blue Jay’s lead instructor is facing charges of child luring and invitation to sexual touching against children.

John Hashimoto, 56, of Hamilton, was charged March 31 at his home by Halton Regional Police, the force said in a press release.

The suspect was a lead instructor with the Toronto Blue Jays’ academy for young players and a Master Coach Developer and Evaluator for Baseball Canada.

He was also actively involved in youth baseball in the City of Hamilton.

He worked as a seasonal employee with the Blue Jays from 2006 to 2020, when his contract ended due to COVID-19.

The Toronto Blue Jays has said Hashimoto is not a current employee of the organization and has not been for about a year.

The team said the suspect underwent regular criminal record checks as part of his job.

The organization in a statement said they are “deeply disturbed to learn of the charges against a former seasonal employee, but as this is an ongoing legal matter, we cannot comment further at this time.”

The suspect is a retired teacher with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. He worked for the board for more than 30 years at four schools between 1987 to 2019.

The board is in the process of notifying families of the arrest.

Police said the incidents occurred online and the suspect was using the handle David or David 46.

Halton Police believe there could be other victims and are asking anyone with information to contact them.

Tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something?” Contact “Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca

 

 

SPORTS-Disc golf can be a sport for the family to enjoy themselves and have fun

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DISC GOLF is becoming more popular and is played at Centennial Park.

 

By REJEAN CANTLON

HAVING fun playing disc golf with your buddies. Courtesy photos.

Similar to traditional golf, the sport of disc golf involves throwing a frisbee or disc from a tee pad into a chained basket, with the objective of landing the disc in the basket in as few throws as possible.

Courses typically include nine or 18 baskets, with each “hole” ranging in difficulty and length.

Milan Zoldak, a first-time player decided to make a nominal investment into some golf discs (smaller than regular frisbees made especially for disc golf with a driver, midrange and putter).

He invited his two grandsons, Ramsey and Ronan to an afternoon round at Etobicoke’s Centennial Park Disc Golf Course (DGC) which open during year-round.

The youngsters quickly took to the game and left their grandfather in their wake.

“I was hoping to find an activity that I could enjoy with my grandchildren while at the same time get some exercise and fresh air,” Milan said. He added with a chuckle, “I just didn’t think I would fall so far behind on the stroke count.” Milan is an avid traditional golfer and regularly plays with his seniors’ league in the summer months.

The Centennial Park 18-hole DGC has been around since 1980 and is described as long and challenging with manicured fairways and picturesque greens.

Asphalt tee pads can be found on both the red and blue tees and it has professional tee signs to match with multiple pin locations on each hole.

The track plays roughly 9670 ft from the blue tees and 8704 ft from the red tees. Water hazards are in play on 6 holes. Please beware that some golf discs sink, just ask Milan. At $15 to $30 a disc, it’s wise to work on your aim and disc placement. The course has some elevation and interesting rolling fairways throughout.

To get there, the best place to park is at the Centennial Park Conservatory near Rathburn and Elmcrest for an easy and short pathway to hole # 1. Having said that, it’s free to play and tee times are not required. All you have to do is show up at any hole and start playing.

Regulars on the course explained to Milan and the boys that the sport of disc golf has increased in popularity in recent years. They went on to say that this particular course saw a notable spike in usership when pandemic-related restrictions meant many other recreational activities were not allowed. Disc golf is a naturally socially distance sport and is also easily accessible. No matter your age, gender or athletic ability, disc golf is a great way to get out there and play a game just for the fun of it. If you’re looking for something fun and different, go out and give it a try. Again, just ask Milan!

Fate of an historic Long Branch Black Barn Maple tree to be heard April 16

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FLYER from Save the Black Barn Maple Committee.

Flyers are being circulated to Long Branch area residents to help save a 160-year-old tree, dubbed ‘The Black Barn Maple of Eastwood,’ which a developer wants to destroy to build a home.

A group called the Black Barn Maple Committee has been formed to lobby the community to help protect “Long Branch’s oldest and largest tree.”

The group, in its flyer, said “the city originally objected to the tree’s removal then withdrew their objection to have the 160-year-old tree destroyed.”

The fate of the tree is before a Toronto Local Appeal Board (TLAB), which resume hearings on April 16.

Concerned residents are urged to email Councillor Mark Grimes with their objections.

Residents said the property was purchased a number of years ago and the developer has since obtained a lawyer and applied to the City of Toronto to try and remove the tree to build a larger home.

The City in a document stated it had reached a settlement with the applicant/owner, which residents say is a numbered company.

“Destroying one of the landmark trees in Long Branch asks the question what is Toronto’s real tree policy,” the committee said in its poster. “Long Branch tree canopy has decreased from 27% to 15% since 2009.”

The flyer noted the tree was a sapling in the 1860s when James and Martha Eastwood purchased 500-acres of the Samuel Smith Tract. ‘This land became known as Eastwood Farm land was dominated by the ‘Eastwood Black Barn’ that stood there until the early 1960s.’

That area of Long Branch near Lake Ontario is home of some of the oldest trees in Canada, officials said. Some are older than Confederation which forged us into a country, from a Dominion, in 1867.

The flyers are being delivered by Canada Post.

For more information visit www.savelongbranchtrees.ca

George is dubbed the King of New Toronto for his tasty, homemade sandwiches

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GEORGE of Lakeshore Super Submarine

George Kozaris has been dubbed the ‘King of New Toronto’ for serving generations of families going back almost 50 years at his popular Lakeshore Super Submarine shop.

Back in the day it took three people, George and his two brothers, to serve the many customers lined up outside their door at the iconic Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Islington Ave. restaurant.

The brothers purchased the shop in 1974 after arriving in Montreal from their native Greece.

They made their way to Toronto, where George worked at Cara Operations as a dishwasher and cook.

He purchased the thriving business from his brothers over the years and is the sole owner.

“Nobody gave us anything when we came here,” Kozaris recalls. “We worked hard for everything that we have.”

Kozaris knows residents by their first name and they religiously return for his tasty, home-made subs.

He makes an assorted sandwich for a young man, who says he was short on cash this week, but promised to repay him on pay day.

“I love it here,” he says. “I love the people.”

He chose the area because it was in the 1970s and the area was booming, with many of the large companies as Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Campbell’s Soup, Anaconda American Brass, Reg. N. Boxer Co., Ritchie & Ramsey Ltd., W. & A. Gilbey’s Distillery and others thriving.

“This was the place to be,” he recalls. “We had two movie theatres and there were lineups around the block to see movies like The Exorcist.”

Kozaris points to an area where Lastman’s Bad Boy Furniture store, Woolworths Supermarkets, two rival movie theatres and a well-known bowling alley used to stand.

“Those were the golden years and the community was booming,” he smiles. “Things were good back then. There is not much here to attract people now.”

The business and residents have also been good to Kozaris, 67, who with wife, Helen, are the parents of two grown daughters and a son.

He is a devoted Toronto Maple Leafs fan and has never missed a day’s work, or been on a holiday. A big hockey fan, he has autographed photos of Sidney Crosby, Brad Marchand and Mike Keenan.

“The furthest I have been to is Niagara Falls since I arrived in Canada,” the sub-maker says proudly. “I would rather be here than at home.”

He is compassionate about the job and has no plans to retire.

“I just can’t retire and sit at home,” Kozaris stresses. “I still have a lot of things to do yet.”

At the pre-COVID days, customers used to visit his brightly decorated shop to have a bite and watch the Leafs play.

Now they pass by in masks to say hello and pick up their food to go.

The sub shop does have a large following on social media from locals who love the good, old fashioned sandwiches.

“I come by this place whenever I’m in the area,” Pavel wrote. “The subs are great and George is great guy. Definitely worth it.”

“This place is a great way to support hardworking Lakeshore folks and be hugely satisfied in the process,” said another sub lover.

“This place doesn’t look like very much but it’s one of those old school family-owned sub shops that is actually really good,” stressed Jason. “The food is delicious, fast, and not very expensive.”

Lakeshore Super Submarine is located at 2939 Lake Shore Blvd. W., or phone 416-252-4371.