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"WEEKEND SHR 10 Yada ) FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2380 - 3° By Rik Davie Weekend Star A jury, of four women and eight men will begin receiv- ing instructions from Superior Court Justice Archie Campbell this mom- ing, as they prepare to deliberate in a trial that may change the face of policing in Ontario. The jury will decide on the guilt qr innocence of three police officers. They face various charges, includ- ing second degree murder, as the result of a confronta- tion two years ago that led to the shooting death of 44- year-old Tony Romagnuolo, the wounding of a York Regional Police officer with his own gun, and the shoot- ing of teenager Rocco Romagnuolo. ~ The shootings occurred on the evening of Dec. 28, 1998. Two York Region offi- cers, Const. Randy Martin and Const. Mike Hoskin, traveled to the Romagnuolo home on the 17th Sideroad near Sunderland to investi- gate allegations that Lorenzo (Enzo) Romagnuolo had threat- ened a police officer in a phone conversation. As they were 'working outside their jurisdiction, the York cops were accompanied by Durham. Constables, Al Robins and Nancy George. As the trial heard, the visit deteriorated into a con- frontation that led to physi- Moffatt named to Durham Police Services "+. =By Rik Davie s3* Weekend Star :->8Scugog Mayor Doug Moffatt is taking a seat on the , Durham... Regional Police -:Services Board (DRPSB): +m hopes, of; encouraging more com- munication with officers who not long ago called for the *tesignation of Chief Kevin McAlpine. Mayor Moffatt will sit on the board with fellow regional council member Bob Boychen - former chair of the board - but said he will by no means take a back seat to the representatives from the south. When asked if he may. seek the chairman- ship. of the board he replied: "Why 'not? The job's open, isn't it? Why do something half way?" ~ The relationship between the board and officers has been strained as of late. Earlier this year the Durham Regional Police Association, which represents the rank-and- file membership, cdlled on the board to seek Chief McAlpine's "resignation. Whenathat didn't happen, the 700 members called on the board membets to resign. ; A Mayor Moffatt said that the first order of business for the new board should be to bring about a new contract for officers. © = * "I think that (a contract) is right at the top of my list," he said. gad Durham police officers have been 'without a con- tract since July of 1999, and are now awaiting arbitra- tion after meetings with . cerns. 'Policé Association, wel- Board Moffatt police representatives and lawyers for the service failed to result in a deal being struck. Mayor Moffatt said he wants to build better lines of communication between police officers "and with the regional council. "There is a need for more accountability to the region by this board, cer- tainly," Mayor Moffatt said. Uxbridge Mayor Gerri Lynn O'Connor did not seek a second term with the. services board after openly criticizing fellow board members about what she said were failures to deal with officers' con- Terry Ryan, president of :the Durham Regional comed Mayor Moffatt to the board. "We look forward to a 'new. outlook and a new insight into the problems of policing in Durham . Region, and we look for- "ward to Mayor Moffatt with hope for a more enlight- ened view," Mr. Ryan said. cal struggles,.and gunfire. The province's Special Investigation Unit (SIU), which investigates police actions that result in serious injury or death to civilians, laid its first-ever murder charge against Const. Martin. He is charged with second-degree murder in the death 44-year-old Tony Romagnuolo. Const. Hoskin has been charged with careless use of a firearm and assault with a weapon, and Const. Robins is charged with aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm by the dis- charge of a firearm in rela- tion to the wounding of then 17-year-old Romagnuolo. All the officers have pleaded not guilty. In his closing arguments to the jury earlier this week, lawyer Harry Black took the jury back through testimony heard from his client, Const. Robins. The veteran Durham offi- Rocco: cer told of hearing gunshots, and seeing 'tTony Romagnuolo choking Const. Martin. Const Robins testi- fied he fired his gun to stop' Rocco Romagnuolo from joining in what appeared to be a struggle for control of Const. Martin's handgun. Rocco was hit by one shot to the abdomen. "Did Const. Robins save the life of Const. Martin?" Mr. Black asked the jury. "We will never know that. "What we do know, is that - in firing his weapon he com- mitted no crime." Crown 'Attomey John Correli told the jury that even given the possibility of . aggression on the part of the Romagnuolo family, "they didn't deserve what they got." Justice Campbell is expected to finish his instructions to the jury early Monday morning, after which they will be sequestered until they reach a verdict. i Sale Ends Dec. 24/00 + FREE GIFT WRAPPING Eo a | 782 | IT Cn 9()5-985 All Men's, Women's & Kids Christmas Store Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9:30 to 8:30 Sat. 9:30 to 5:30 Sun. 11:00 to 5:00 Sun., Dec 24 9:30 to 4:00 CLOSED DEC. 25 & 26 "CIDER . - . a. pa. (7 5 », A el \ PEE y \ & GOODIES ON WEEKENDS Eid , & io ah oo aor 2 Wal ga gigi nn