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"*IMW PWM sAc=cepted " WINUDfug kifOnnaton A "At Zakus We Caro About Your Heath" L»»MStE. 875-2424 A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 139 No. 2 Friday, March 6, 1998 32 Pages 417 LaunierAo. 750 (GST included) Many guns like murder weapon, defence argues By IRENE GENTLE Special ta the Champion A killer stood behind a w"ooden outhouse and fired at least four bullets into it, a firearms expert told a Milton court. Four spent cartridge shelîs and two unfired bullets were found bebind the outhouse of Fred Sheppard, 77. Mr. Sheppard's bullet-tomn body was found in the outhouse of bis Steeles Avenue property in early March, 1995. Police board proposes hike of 8per cent By HOWARD MOZEL Special ta The Champion. After being painted a dismal picture of life on the force thanks to a budget freeze, the Halton Regional Police Services Board has endorsed an 8.3 per cent hike. Chief Peter Campbell and his staff were directed by regional council to develop the freeze scenario - or $3 million in cuts - and last week the board was con- fronted with the layoffs, low morale, service reduc- tions and more that would result. "If we do this ... we gut this organization," said Chief Campbell, who stated clearly he would not rec- ommend the reductions. "If we did some really dra- conian tbings, that's wbat we'd come to." Ail but one board member, John Taylor, voted in favour of the $43.5 million budget which - without esee COPS on page 2 Keith Madeley, 25, a former boyfriend of Mr. Sheppard's granddaughter Lori, is cbarged with the murder. Firearms expert Finn Nielson, formerly of the Centre for Forensic Sciences, told the court the bullets were likely fired from a .22 long calibre rifle such as a Lakefield 64B. Mr. Madeley purchased a Lakefield 64B .22 calibre semi-automatic in late 1994. The untired bullets found by the outhouse were of the same type as unfired bullets found at the Gagnon residence, where Mr. Madeley bad been living at the time of the murder, and up until bis April arreat. In contrast, court heard that the bullets could not have come from a .22 calibre Mossberg owned by Fred Sheppard. -Juat as we ail have fingerprints, so do ail firearmns have their own individuality," said Mr. Nielson. Mr. Nielson testified that sawed-off gun parts, including the butt and stock of a .22 found in a remote region of the Gagnon property, could also have come from a Laketield 64B. In cross-examiùnation, defence lawyer Dirk Derstine argued that the rifle owned by the accused is one of the most popular weapons in Canada, and the bullets and- gun parts could have come from any rifle of that make. "At the centre we used to refer to them jokingly as Canada's favourite murder and suicide weapon because we saw them so often," agreed Mr. Nielson. In other testimony, Brian Gagnon, son-in-law of Fred Sheppard, appeared confused and nervous during bis cross-examination Monday. Mr. Gagnon seemied reluctant to answer questions as to whether bis wife Susan had expressed to hlm a dis- like of ber father's longtime live-in companion, Pearl Johnston. In previous testimony, Ms Gagnon told the court she disliked Ms Johnston because she believed the womnan bad mun through ber father's bank account and then left esee OFFENCE on page 4 Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Strutting her stuif Eieven-year-oid Christina Shipowlck showcases her beam routine Sunday during the Milton Springers' Gymotrada at E.C. Drury High School. The event featured performances by both competitive and pre- competltlve gymnaste. For more Gymetradla photos, see page 18. Moals on Wheols needs help 030RIW Miton's Meals on Wheels desperately needs vol- unteers. 37BebS ._J The non-profit organization is lookung for both dni vers - for Wednesday, Thursday and Fniday deluv- eries - and volunteers to serve food to seniors in apartment buildings on Thursdays. Dr. Jo-Ann McKinnon Ail volunteer positions run from il to 12:30 p.m. If you can heip out, cail Mary Cooke at 878-6639. 875-1322 r 1 Ian,!9W X WIH I TE ID lems WIE e) N&DEALN ,0n/ 1o MWa Tinti fro i vý --- àlo