Monday marks the first anniversary since Surrey mom Julie Paskall was viciously attacked outside a Newton ice arena.
On New Year’s Eve, Paskall succumbed to the injuries she suffered when she was attacked in the darkness on Dec. 29 outside the Newton Community Centre as she arrived to pick up her son, who was refereeing a hockey game.
Since then, local residents have come together demanding action to make their streets safer.
Doug Elford, spokesman for the Newton Community Association, says not enough has happened.
“That stabbing and carjacking that has recently occurred. We’ve had youth getting mobbed,” says Elford. “We’ve had so many issues in the last little while. It just seems to not go away.”
Elford says his group will keep up pressure on city, provincial and federal politicians to come up with a co-ordinated plan to fight crime, but some residents told Global News they have noticed some positive changes, with more patrols and better lighting.
In May, police arrested and charged 27-year-old Yosef Gopaul with second-degree murder in Paskall’s death.
His next court appearance is Jan. 26.
For now, there are no official plans to mark the anniversary of Paskall’s death.
With files from Julia Foy
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