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i 's Newspaper of Che Volume 135 Number 05 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2000 COPY 75¢ 170 + 5c asm) 28 Pages Community ~~ Justhavinaball Jury in responds to shooting call for help at Christmas CdSE NOW at work By Chris Hall By Rik Davie Port Perry Star Scugog residents are once again pulling together to help the needy this Special to the Star Mr. Justice Archie Campbell has placed the fate of three police officers charged in Holiday Season. The number of area families seeking the 1998 shooting of a Sunderland man in the hands of the jury. assistance from the Operation Scugog food bank has increased since last year, The four women and eight men have spent the last five weeks hearing evi- and the community has once again gra- dence into the Dec. 28, 1998 confrontation ciously offered its support. "People are still applying (for help)," said Ann Wanninkhof, a volunteer with Operation Scugog, and co-ordinator of the Christmas Hamper program. that left 44-year-old Tony Romagnuolo dead and his teenaged son Rocco wound- ed. Charged are York Regional Constables Randy Martin and Mike Hoskin, and .The Christmas Hamper initiative sees area businesses, families, churches and Durham Regional Police Const. Al Robins. The chain of events began with allega- schools "adopt" a needy family, provid- ing them with a complete Christmas din- tions that 19-year-old Enzo Romagnuolo had threatened to break the legs of Const. ner, clothes and toys. Those helping out are told the ages, Hoskin during a phone conversation on Dec. 20, 1998. gender and clothing sizes of the family members. It is then up to them to find suitable clothing and gifts. The food bank will include a $20 voucher for a turkey in the hamper; it is redeemable at Constables Hoskin and Martin trav- elled to the Romagnuolo home on the I 7th Sideroad near Sunderland, accompa- nied by Durham officers Nancy George and Al Robins, a standard procedure when either Port Perry IGA or Reid's working outside their jurisdictional area. Independent Grocers. No names or addresses are passed along, ensuring confidentiality. Once there, the jury heard, a confronta- tion between Tony, Enzo and Rocco Romagnuolo and the four officers began "We've been busy accepting more and more applications for the hampers," when Const. Hoskin attempted to arrest Enzo for threatening a police officer. said Mrs. Wanninkhof. "But through the generosity of the people here in Scugog, The jury heard from the Romagnuolo family that police provoked the confronta- we'll be able to accommodate them." tion. All three officers testified that they The only unfortunate aspect of the effort is that the demand for help has believed themselves to be in a fight for their lives with the family members. increased, she said. The Special Investigations Unit was More than 160 families have applied to Operation Scugog for assistance this called in after Tony Romagnuolo was shot three times by Const. Martin, and Rocco year. "We've got more families on the list than we have people willing to adopt them, but thanks to the donations from form: was this little guy; Christ logether hampers for everyone." sad mons) Jing to feel ARE while singing "| Saw a a ot oy 0 Shot. fren toe Mrs. Wanninkhof. Santa Claus." ; ; pistol of Const. Al Robins. Please turn to page 9 he yd ii 7 | Please turn to page 13 Ligh ~ AOU 10 )".Y/\'| J = [2 Vel = The slochings wee hung in hoped that AND PATIO CENTRE Weiiicisiiviin i 46041 woudd le here! ip; Brock St. W,, 20Id Kingston Rd., Uxbridge Ajax The Best of the Season to All! {3 ove "nm