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SPORTSi COMMUNITY ,-Dc \wildt s eos ieagucîs stLIL ~Ii.~ on the mairket 1their stuif on Champ k vaccinate children in Ecuador âr.4 ,i IIrs inside Day rage ig p'ag 8 A METROLAND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER VOL. 146 NO. 5 -!7'TUESDAY, MARCH 29,2005 $1.00 (GST inclde 40 PAGES "Using Commnunication to Build Better Communities" .vPlaying around Little Madeline Hay enjoys some fun in the PlayBarn during Easter activities over the week- end at Mountsberg Conservation Are. Photo by ASHLEA WESSEL .,Defence wants tree case thrown out By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion A lawyer defending a man charged with plowmng down acres of trees in a forbidden area is asking for the charges to be dropped, saying the Crown pro- ceeded with the case in a "disgraceful" manner. Defence lawyer David Crocker argued Wednesday the charges against bis client, Burlington's George Vastis. should be stayed hecause Crown attorney John Olah bad failed to meet the requirements for disclosure - which is the obligation of Use prosecution to hand over ail evidence relevant Io the case as it becomes avait- able. "The actions of the prosecution have been so far.. disgraceful," Mr. Crockcr told Justice of the Peace J. Woloschuk ai Ontario Provincial Offences Court in Burlington. Mr. Vastis is facing $840.000 in fines for 44 counts of cutting down trees in a woodlot and an Environentally Sensitive Ares, violating tbe Region of Halton's tree conservation bylaw. Last monUs, Mr Crocker served Mr. Olah with a motion record and a factum, a 59-paragraph docu- ment containing allegations including late produc- tion of Use Region's OfficiaI Plan and various wit- nesses' material. He said Mr. Olab failed to tum over documents and information in a timely manner before trial began. "Tbere's no distinction in my mind between late disclosure and lack of disclosure," Mr. Crocker told court. He also said the prosecution continued investi- gating well after Use trial began - tuming up new evidence after Mr. Crocker had already determined Use direction of Use defence's case. Tbe clearing activity in question took place in April and July of 2003, in wbicb 20 acres of trees was cleared in long swathes on a FourUs Line prop- erty owned by NIL Vastis. The property is located on Use MiltonlOakville border, soutb of Britannia Road and nortb of Hwy. 407 betwcen Regional Road 25 and Trafalgar Road. Mr. Vastis pleaded not guilty to Use charges lasi year. Mr. Crocker sald Use "straw that broke the carnels back" was whcn a letter Usat bad the poten- tial to change the defence's position wasn't pro- see ALLEGATIONS on page 9 EALUNBfER FORD LINCOLN 655 MAIN STREET EAST. MILTON www.galllnerord.com nmu) 875-FORD (3673) A Tradftio of a Value & Trust since 1967 Real Estate 'W Inside Comment.......... 6 Dateline .........7,12 Business..........10 Champion Country . .13-17 Classitied .......21-24 TMAXS AMI2 HM umSAY MCm 29.0 &au Dao Mm* Ce 0kw* mu %Md Doer * hie Dpr* lhoV %Gy* OM* mmIV* pMfl* Seam - Siluography *3elâcluii arias aniy wvww.miltontoyota.com