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MILTON P~C~~ ail aidML- A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 139 No. 4 Fniday, March 13, 1998 28 Pages 750 {GST included) Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Meet the 'Peanuts' gang E.C. Drury High Scbool packed the bouse this weelc durinefr macs f"Voure a Good Man Charlte Brown". Among the cast were (clockwise from front) Natalle Dugale, Suzie Masters, Noah Hcks, Kathy Fanrant, Erie Svilans and Katie Murzin. SItI A. e NEW "iState of thie Art" facility *Over 54 yrs combined expenlence Brian - Don - Doug * Friendly courteous service Î CHURCHILL COLLISION INC. (05) 8530 Fate of Madeley in jury's hands By IRENE GENTLE Special to the Champion A jury has gone into deliberation following almost eight weeks of often grueling testimony in a Milton murder trial. After hearing the defence and Crown attorney's sumnmations as well as a three-hour judge's address, the eight-mnan, three-womnan jury retired Wednesday at 1 p.m. They wilI decide the fate of Keith Madeley, 25, accused in the shooting murder of Milton senior citizen Fred Sheppard. Mr. Sheppard's bullet-torn body was found in the outhouse of his rural Steeles Avenue property in March, 1995. Mr. Madeley is a former boyfriend of Mr. Sheppard's granddaughter Lori. The accused acknowledged his mother Irene Madeley in the public gallery for one of the first times as he was led into the courtroom only hours before the jury retired.. The jury heard an hour-tong summation by defence tawyer Chris Hicks Monday, in which Mr. Hicks suggested people other than the accused, namely Mr. Sheppard's daughter Susan and her husband Brian Gagnon, had motivation for the killing. "There's motive in other people. Susan and Brian Gagnon are beneficiaries in Fred Sheppards witl. They thought the proper- ty was worth $400 000," said Mr. Hicks. Mr. Hicks also pointed out the existence of a second, unsigned witt in which Mr. Sheppard left the bulk of is estate to bis then girtfriend Pearl Johnston. "Fred Sheppard bas two wils. The irst he signed shortty after the death of his wife and it leaves everything to Susan and her brother Tom Sheppard. The second witt is unsigned but it leaves everything to Pearl Johnston," said Mr. Hicks. -Susan Gagnon says she went through Fred Sheppards papers in the fall but she neyer saw that will, so easity found by the police?"' Mr. Hicks also downplayed the connec- tion between several withdrawals from Mr. Sheppard's bank account on March 2-3 and bis death, said to have occurred between March 1-7. "The Crown's position is that someone was draining Fred Sheppard's account and that person was Keith Madeley, and because he was draining the account, Fred Sheppard got shot," said Mr. Hicks. "OnIy Susan Gagnon's account was being drained too and Susan Gagnon w9s not shot." Ms Gagnon had $100 taken from ber account around that time period. in bis two and a haif hour address to the jury, Crown attorney Brian O'Marra attempted to debunk the conspiracy tbeory of the murder. "The murder of Fred Sheppard was not a grand conspiracy. It was a work of a sin- esee MURDER on page 2 Teen made Up the story, cops saying A i 7-year-old youth faces charges for allegedly making up a robbery story and instead stealing the money himself. Halton Regional Police say the Brookville Store was neyer held up on January 8, contrary to a robbery report f rom a clerk. Acting Det. Sgt. Kim Duncan said $418 was stolen from the store. The youth, whose identity is pro- tected under the Young Offenders Act, is charged with theft under $5000 and public mischief. Dr. Je-Ann McKinnon 875-1322 1