Jake Romphf

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A B.C. Supreme Court Judge gave a lesser sentence to a Fairy Creek protester after police moved and ran over $1,600 worth of the individual’s camping gear. (Contributed - BC RCMP)

Fairy Creek protester gets lesser sentence after camping gear crushed

Citizens have a right to expect property will be safeguarded, Supreme Court judge says

A B.C. Supreme Court Judge gave a lesser sentence to a Fairy Creek protester after police moved and ran over $1,600 worth of the individual’s camping gear. (Contributed - BC RCMP)
Martin Payne was murdered in his Metchosin home on July 12, 2019. He’s remembered by family and friends for spreading joy, love and kindness to everyone he met. (Facebook/Martin Payne)

Loved ones remember joyous B.C. man as his killer is sentenced

Martin Payne’s family say they’ll never recover from the thought of his traumatic final moments

Martin Payne was murdered in his Metchosin home on July 12, 2019. He’s remembered by family and friends for spreading joy, love and kindness to everyone he met. (Facebook/Martin Payne)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage were charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after the pair escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Escaped B.C. inmate found guilty of murder of Vancouver Island man

But jury wasn’t told of fate of second escaped inmate in killing of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage were charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after the pair escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
The lawyer for one of two escaped William Head inmates said his client should be acquitted as he blamed a 2019 murder solely on Zachary Armitage. William Head Institution is shown through a security fence in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Lam

Only one escaped inmate committed B.C. murder, defence claims in closing remarks

James Lee Busch’s lawyer puts murder blame solely on Zachary Armitage

The lawyer for one of two escaped William Head inmates said his client should be acquitted as he blamed a 2019 murder solely on Zachary Armitage. William Head Institution is shown through a security fence in Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Lam
Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. He was described by family as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Payne. (Facebook/Martin Payne)

Crown says escaped inmates worked together to murder B.C. man

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with first-degree murder of Martin Payne

Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. He was described by family as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Payne. (Facebook/Martin Payne)
James Lee Busch is charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne. (Corrections Service Canada)

Island escaped prisoner murder trial hears of ‘lethal’ stab, chop wounds

James Lee Busch is charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch is charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne. (Corrections Service Canada)
Anthony Thomas was found guilty of impaired and dangerous driving, leading to the 2018 death of a 51-year-old pedestrian in Central Saanich. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘Devastating’: Vancouver Island driver faces sentencing in 2018 roadside death

Anthony Thomas convicted after killing one sister and permanently injuring the other

Anthony Thomas was found guilty of impaired and dangerous driving, leading to the 2018 death of a 51-year-old pedestrian in Central Saanich. (Black Press Media file photo)
James Lee Busch (left) and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

RCMP analyst confirms three sets of DNA found on Metchosin murder scene evidence

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch (left) and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
Two inmates who escaped William Head prison in Metchosin were caught after commenting on the size of Lewis the Great Dane. He was being walked by John Ferguson, who was an off-duty officer at the time. (Black Press Media file photo)

Court hears of off-duty officer’s encounter with Metchosin inmates, and their arrest

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with killing 60-year-old Metchosin man

Two inmates who escaped William Head prison in Metchosin were caught after commenting on the size of Lewis the Great Dane. He was being walked by John Ferguson, who was an off-duty officer at the time. (Black Press Media file photo)
Zachary Armitage, charged along with James Lee Busch in killing Metchosin’s Martin Payne, is no longer a part of a trial associated with the case. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Metchosin murder trial continues without one of the escaped inmates

Jury hears Zachary Armitage no longer part of these court proceedings

Zachary Armitage, charged along with James Lee Busch in killing Metchosin’s Martin Payne, is no longer a part of a trial associated with the case. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after their escape from William Head Institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Blood spatter analyst explains where Metchosin man was struck in his home

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne after their escape from William Head Institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are back in police custody after their escape from William Head institution on July 7. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Jury sees items from scene of Metchosin homicide, others found with escaped inmates

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are back in police custody after their escape from William Head institution on July 7. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with killing Martin Payne after the inmates escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Defence lawyers critical of items examined at Metchosin homicide scene

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with killing Martin Payne after the inmates escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
Martin Payne’s red Ford F150 pickup truck was found in Oak Bay in 2019. A lawyer defending one of the men accused of killing Payne asked about how the truck and the slain Metchosin man’s home were examined. (West Shore RCMP photo)

Defence lawyer questions evidence examination during trial for escaped Metchosin inmates

Zachary Armitage’s lawyer cross-examined RCMP forensics investigator on Tuesday

Martin Payne’s red Ford F150 pickup truck was found in Oak Bay in 2019. A lawyer defending one of the men accused of killing Payne asked about how the truck and the slain Metchosin man’s home were examined. (West Shore RCMP photo)
James Lee Busch (left) and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Bloody shoes found in bags linked to prints at Metchosin crime scene

Escaped inmates Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with killing Martin Payne

James Lee Busch (left) and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Forensics expert testifies inmates’ fingerprints found in home, truck of slain Metchosin man

Escaped inmates Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with killing Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of 60-year-old Martin Payne after they escaped William Head institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
The body of Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. Family described him as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” Two escaped inmates from William Head Institution have been charged with his murder. (Facebook/Martin Payne)

Murder trial hears of prison escapees’ attempts to get off Vancouver Island

Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with killing 60-year-old Martin Payne of Metchosin

The body of Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. Family described him as “exceptionally gentle” and “caring.” Two escaped inmates from William Head Institution have been charged with his murder. (Facebook/Martin Payne)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of a Metchosin man after their escape from William Head Institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Couple recalls doorstep encounter with inmates accused of murdering Metchosin man

Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with killing 60-year-old Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage are charged with the first-degree murder of a Metchosin man after their escape from William Head Institution on July 7, 2019. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
Victoria woman Kaela Mehl is expected to plead guilty to second-degree murder in a retrial for the murder of her 18-month-old daughter Charlotte Cunningham, who died in September 2015. (Black Press Media file photo)

Guilty plea expected in retrial for Victoria mom accused in toddler’s death

Kaela Mehl successfully appealed her first-degree murder charge last year

Victoria woman Kaela Mehl is expected to plead guilty to second-degree murder in a retrial for the murder of her 18-month-old daughter Charlotte Cunningham, who died in September 2015. (Black Press Media file photo)
The McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Esquimalt, B.C., is seen on Friday, January 8, 2021. The Greater Victoria area no longer uses surrounding ocean waters to flush away raw effluent now that a $775 million sewage plant has started treating the equivalent of 43 Olympic-sized pools of waste daily. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

For its neighbours, Greater Victoria’s wastewater plant woes flow through the nose

Those living nearby say CRD hasn’t kept its promise of an odour-free McLoughlin treatment facility

The McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Esquimalt, B.C., is seen on Friday, January 8, 2021. The Greater Victoria area no longer uses surrounding ocean waters to flush away raw effluent now that a $775 million sewage plant has started treating the equivalent of 43 Olympic-sized pools of waste daily. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito