Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 8, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press thursday july 8, 2004 City / District b5 judge revokes soldiers bail awaits sentencing for horrible beating by Mike Mcintyre a Winnipeg based member of the Canadian military had his free Dom stripped away yesterday after a judge found him guilty of a Hor Rible beating that left an american col lege student comatose. Derick Lee Besaw 25, a private with the second battalion of the Princess Patri Cias Canadian Light infantry had his bail revoked and will await sentencing for aggravated assault while in jail. Crown attorney Brian Wilford said Besaw should receive a Federal Penitentiary term despite having no prior Crimi Nal record. The Crown intends to rely on the recent decision by the Manitoba court of Appeal in which a conditional sentence was replaced by four years in prison for a Man who caused permanent brain damage to his victim. Defence lawyer Grant Clay pleaded with Queens Bench Justice Nathan Nur Gitz to keep Besaw free in the Community so he can continue living and working As a Cook at Kapyon Barracks. The Clay said he will accused. Seek a conditional sentence for Besaw. Was involved this was a Horri in driving ble crime Nur Gitz said yesterday in the victims finding Besaw guilty head into and rejecting his bid the Wall to continue bail. The accused. Was ? Queens involved in driving Bench Justice the victims head into Nathan Nur Gitz the Alex Ourada 21, spent 15 Days in a coma following the vicious March 2002 attack inside a downtown Winnipeg hotel. The Minnesota College student had come to Canada with five friends to Cele brate their Spring break and take advantage of our lower drinking age. The americans met Besaw and one of his friends outside the former Wise Guys bar & Grill in the Exchange District. Besaw and his Friend were interested in two girls travelling with Ourada and came Back to their hotel with them. The Friendly gathering quickly turned sour with Ourada and some of his Amer ican friends getting into an argument with the Manitoba males. Winnipeg police initially speculated the violence May have partially been Trig gered by Canadas winning of the olympic Gold medal in hockey Only weeks earlier. Working in Canada several of Ourada a friends testified . Relations were discussed but not involving hockey. Instead the focus was on living and working in Canada. The main source of debate was Besaw a and his friends insistence Ourada and his buddies leave them alone with the two american women court was told. Two separate fistfights broke out spilling into the hallway of the hotel where they were partially captured on surveillance video. Mary Ellen Baskerville testified she saw Besaw smash Ourada a head against a Wall leaving a bloody stain. Baskerville believes her Friend was unconscious from hitting the Wall and was unable to protect himself from what she described As a stomping. Baskerville and the other american female Kari Kashmarek both told court they were uncomfortable by the roman tic advances of Besaw and his Friend and did to want to be left alone with the strangers. The most damning testimony came from Besaw a Friend Joe Elliott a fellow Soldier who was a reluctant Crown witness. The Man told court Besaw was angry with Ourada and threatened him moments before the attack. Elliott said he was surprised to see Besaw delivering four or five powerful stomps to the head and upper Region of Ourada a body. He was being thrown around like a rag doll Wilford told court yesterday of the attack. Nicole Perea who lives across the and spread from a tree to the garage firefighters Battle Street said she was tucking her children dangerously close to the House Perea into bed at about 9 30 . When a rela said. Tive who lives nearby called to warn her smoke was visible for blocks and Redwood Blaze there was smoke near her Home. Perea police officers closed off streets to tray firefighters were tackling a fire on called 911. Fic. Electrical wires were also Down Redwood ave. Last night but had Little the Blaze apparently started in the prompting a Call to Manitoba Hydro. Information about the Blaze. Back Alley of the Redwood Avenue Home i Brief Citadel cleanup to begin an environmental group that plans to renovate the former salvation army Citadel in Chinatown will begin a Thor Ough cleanup of the building today. The Centre for indigenous Environ mental resources Cier will begin a month Long cleanup of 221 Rupert Avenue including the removal of vast amounts of Pigeon droppings. Cier plans to renovate the old Citadel and the building behind it on Pacific Avenue link them with an atrium and create 25,000 Square feet of office space. Cier is a Winnipeg based National non profit organization founded 10 years ago by a group of first nation chiefs from across Canada. Its purpose is to provide technical expertise to help communities find sustainable solutions for the environmental Chal Lenges they face. Search seeks help the Community of South Indian Lake is seeking donations to continue the search for a Fisherman who drowned two weeks ago. Police divers were unable to locate the body of William Dysart 64. However Nora Spence a close family Friend said the Community is deter mined to recover the body. Spence said Between 50 to 100 searchers continue to comb the Lake each Day. She said donations Are needed to sup ply them with food and Gas. Anyone wishing to help can mail their donations to Spence or Roberta Dysart at . Box 13, South Indian Lake Man., r0b 1n0. People looking for More information on the search can Call 204-374-2271. Correction Advance electronics advertisement in wed. July 7 free press. Copy should have read not a cent to pay til next year. We apologize for any inconvenience this May have caused our valued customers. ;