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rL i~C I M'L~RR1 4 A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 138 No. 104 Friday, February27, 1998 24 Pages 750 (GST included) Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Swînging into sprîng Two-year-oId Brad Gorman enjoys sun-drenched, spring-like weather Wednesday at Victoria Park. Wth temperatures as hlgh as 90C, cen the officiai atart of sprlng be far away? Council indicates Worry now, decide later Bv BRAD REAUME The Champion Thiey decined to talk thse talk. Tuesday nigbt several town councillors said they do not want to tip their banda regarding tax increases or service cuts before the bottomn line on financial requiremnents for 1998 is known. However, layoffs appear to be a possibility. Included in the budget package is a departmnent by departmnent plan to cut as mucb as 14.5 per cent of expenditurea, partly tbrougb tbe layoff of the equiva- lent of 32 full time employees. The information provides counicîl witb options for making deeper cuts, wbîcb appear to be necessary to meet provincial budget requirementa. Faced witb possible new information from provin- cial officiais, members of Milton's administration and planning committee decided to defer consideration cf thse town's operating budget. A meeting witb provincial officials will uccur next week witb debate on Milton's budget slated foi esee WAIT on page 3 Expert: Blood tracks by shoe like suspect' s 5v IRENE GENTLE Special to Thse Champion A Milton murder trial jury examined a blood-stained jacket sleeve and an outhouse plank with a bloodied partial foot imprint during the testimony of a forensic biologist Wednesday. Elida Kafarowski of the Centre of Forensic Science testified on blood spiatter pattema found on the board at the- scene of the murder of Fred Sheppard, 77. Mr. Sheppard's bullet-wracked body was found in the outhouse of his Steeles Avenue property in March, 1995. Keith Madeley, 25, a former boyfriend of Mr. Sheppard's then 14-year-old grand- daughter, is charged with the killing. Ms Kafarowski testified is to whether blood pattems indicate the blood was on the outhouse plank before or after the print was made. The foot impression matched in print and sîze the shoes womn by Mr. Madeley at bis April, 1995 arrest. No blood was found on the shoes themn- selves. Ms Kafarowski told the court ber analy- sis of 8 by 10 inch pbotographs of the board, taken immediately after the fuarder, was inconclusive as to the layering of the blood wîtb the print. However, later scruti- ny of the board itself in ianuary and February 1998 proved more informative. Blood there before "Having looked at the object itself as well as the photographs, 1 was able to con- clude that the blood had been deposited to the surface before the footwear impression had been made," said Ms Kafarowski. Ms Kafarowski testified that the dis- turhed, or non-bead-Iike, stains were con- sistent with the pattern of the print treads. "There may have been blood on the bot. tom of the shoe or atematively it's possi. ble that the blood is picked up by the bot. Ir tom of the shoe," said Ms Kafarowski 0 "Tise blood would have to have been we to some extent at the time." 1- Tests done in similar circumatance ýd show that small drops of blood would talc )f 30-40 minutes to dry. A leather jacket witb a blood-stained lel Kt leeve was also shown to the jury. Prio r testimony by the victim's daughter, Susa Gagnon, had linked the jacket with he the accused at the time of the murder. Defence attomney Dirk Derstine argued that the small amount of blood on the sleeve could have been produced by some- tbing like a pricked finger. Time a factor Mr. Derstine also argued that the time span between the 1995 murder and the 1998 examinationa of the plank could make for uncertain conclusions. "I'm going to suggest that in any scien- tific endeavor there are varous degrees of certainty," said Mr. Derstine. "I'm going to suggest that blood on a surface over time becomes more elastic and susceptible to rubbing off. This would be a concemr to you since you only actual- Iy saw the item we're referring to three years after the blood was transferred." The trial is expected to continue today. Curi for cure Milton will curi for cancer this weekend. Aduits and oilidren alike will descend on the Milton Curling Club today and tomorrow in a mass effort to raise funds for Camp Trillium - an Ontario summer programn for chul- dren with cancer. Organizers are hoping to raise $20,000 through corporate sponsor- ship, pledges and entry fees. In addition to day-long competition, Curl For Cancer will feature games of chance plus a live and sulent auc- tion. Businesses wishing to make last minute donations can do so by cail- ing Doug Wilson at 878-0754 or Ken Hassard at 878-8231. Dr. Jo-Ann McKinnon 875-1322 Chroma Vison Colour Matching System Clision & Refinisin Cntre o!,,,c i"0MI I m 0