WEDNESDAY
July 27, 2011
A division of
Vol. 26 No. 59
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COMOX VALLEY RECORD
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FISTS AND FEET
MMA fighters go for the gusto at Sports Centre. ■ 17
RHYTHM ON ROCK
EMOTIONAL MEMBERS of James Denton’s family engaged in a verbal altercation Monday outside the Courtenay courthouse with friends of the teen accused of murdering Denton, 19. PHOTO COURTESY A VANCOUVER ISLAND
First-degree murder laid after stabbing Incident happened as crowds dispersed from two events near Vanier Secondary Erin Haluschak, Mark Allan Record Staff
Emotions ran high Monday morning inside and outside the courtroom in Courtenay where a 16-year-old charged with firstdegree murder made his first appearance. The teen, who cannot be identified because of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was arrested Saturday night following a stabbing at about 11:30 p.m. near the entrance to G.P. Vanier
Secondary School in Courtenay ing members of his family could as a crowd dispersed from the not restrain their emotions inside Rhythm on the Rock festival at the the courtroom as the 16-year-old, nearby Comox Valley Exhibition looking stoic and unemotional, Grounds. was formalA Full ly read his We’ve had it with little Throttle charge by Fight Night dweebs running around this town p r o v i n 3 mixed cial court m a r t i a l with knives because they don’t Judge Peter arts event have enough balls to stand up Doherty was also and fight. was David Denton and wrapping led back to up at the custody by nearby Comox Valley Sports Cen- sheriffs. tre. James Denton, the 19-year-old Doherty noted it is the court’s victim, later died at St. Joseph’s position to seek an adult sentence General Hospital in Comox. for the suspect if found guilty. Denton was raised in Port Family members sitting in the Hardy and attended Highland Sec- front rows of the gallery, visibly ondary School in Comox. Griev- shaken, burst into tears as the
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charge was read. Outside the courthouse, a verbal altercation ensued between family members of Denton and friends of the alleged assailant. “He killed my boy; he murdered my son,” yelled Brenda Denton, mother of James. “I want justice for my son.” She later added, “He died sticking up for a friend.” David Denton, hugging his wife while surrounded by friends and family, added he wants justice for his son. “He died for nothing,” he said, adding he wants the trial dealt with in an appropriate manner as quickly as possible so the family can have some closure.
Before tragedy struck just afterwards, the first Rhythm on the Rock music festival went quite well, its promoter said Monday. “There was a lot of families and little kids and a real mix of all ages,” said promoter Jessie Lightburn. “The younger crowd started to come out once there was more of a rock and roll atmosphere.” As the crowd dispersed Saturday night after the one-day festival, a 19-year-old man was fatally stabbed nearby. ...Full story on page ■ 41
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