Pubdate: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Abbotsford News Contact: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Trudy Beyak POLICE BOARD REVIEWS FIVE MURDERS OF 2008 Abbotsford Police have dealt with five murders so far this year, compared to only one last year for the same period last year. Deputy Chief Rick Lucy provided the latest crime statistics for August to the Police Board report on Tuesday. Several of the homicides this year are related to the drug trade and gang violence. Lucy said the Abbotsford Police are very concerned about the increase in crimes of violence and murder this year and are taking steps to try to prevent and reduce these crimes from happening. The status of the 2008 murder investigations: - - On July 22 Dustin Lee Wester, a 25-year-old Abbotsford man, died of gunshot wounds. Investigators concluded the murder is linked to the drug trade. He was found in a vehicle at the Shell station in Mount Lehman, but the shooting did not take place there. The murder occurred apparently at a white and blue farmhouse on Townshipline Road, where police also discovered a large marijuana grow operation. No arrests have been made and police continue their investigation. - - On May 28 Janice McMath, 64, died after being shot. Her husband Robert McMath, 64, had been charged with attempted murder in connection with the shooting. She was shot at the family's rural property in Bradner in the 5000 block of McMath Street. - - On May 24 Police were called at 2:20 a.m. to Harmin "Harvey" Hans' family home on Ridgeview Drive after hearing of a fight between a group of Indo-Canadian men in front of the house. Officers arrived to find Hans lying on the lawn with a stab wound to his neck. He was rushed to hospital but later died of his injuries. A group believed to be involved in the altercation fled before police arrived. Shavinder "Shevy" Brar, 21, and Amrit Gill, 20, were charged with second degree murder in the death of Hans, who was a Rick Hansen Secondary student. - - On May 8 Duane Harvey Meyer was shot to death in front of a house on Kipling Street in Abbotsford and is one of the victims in the Lower Mainland's rash of murders related to suspected gang killings. There have been no arrests related to Meyer's death and police continue their investigation. - - March 25 Daniel Raymond Casgrain, 54, was charged with second degree murder in the death of his common law wife Hendrikje Priester, 52. Police were called about 7:30 a.m. to an apartment in the 33300 block of Mayfair Avenue, where officers found Priester's body in a second-floor suite. The charges were stayed, but police are continuing their investigation. - - The death of a 17-year-old boy, who was shot in the head on July 26 at a home in the 4000 block of Brisbane Court in Abbotsford is not classified as a homicide. The victim's 17-year-old friend was arrested and charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath