Interior designer arrested in poisoning of 5 trees
Kevin Griffin and Jonathan Fowlie
Vancouver Sun
Saturday, October 30, 2004
A prominent Vancouver interior designer who runs a South Granville store was arrested Friday and held for several hours by Vancouver police in connection with the poisoning of five trees along Beach Avenue near Stanley Park.
Const. Anne Drennan said June Matheson was arrested just before 11:30 a.m. at her apartment in the 2200-block Beach Avenue, taken the Main Street police station and questioned for several hours.
Matheson was released later in the afternoon and ordered to appear in provincial court Dec. 2, although charges have not yet been approved by Crown counsel.
"The investigation found that there were holes drilled in the base of each tree," Drennan said.
A herbicide was then poured into the holes. Three of the trees have been killed, but two may survive.
Drennan said park board staff have estimated that replacing the trees with specimens of equal size could cost $60,000.
J Interiors on South Granville is named after Matheson. The store has attracted clients such as Goldie Hawn, Sarah McLachlan and Bif Naked.
Since news of the poisonings broke, rumours have circulated in the community that a woman in the building across the street was involved, and that she had allegedly done it to improve her view.
"It's been an ongoing thing around here," said James Muteri, a neighbour who sells hotdogs from a cart near the trees.
"People are coming by right, left and centre, some yelling profanities up there," he said pointing to the third floor of the Beach Street building.
"When it happened every single person wanted to do something to that lady," John Dehart, a neighbour, said. "It's unbelievable how up in arms everyone was."
Dehart, who had heard about the arrest from people in the community, said it was a good thing that police may be close to laying charges.
He added that many in the community think a good penalty is for whoever is found guilty of poisoning the trees to have to pay to replant them.
The five trees were poisoned in late spring or early summer in a grassy area overlooking English Bay, not far from the park board offices and Stanley Park.
Police said earlier they were looking into a tip that the person responsible, who later bragged to friends, bought the substance that killed the trees in Washington state, then hired one or more people to inject it into the trees.
The person or persons responsible could face charges of mischief over $5,000, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
In a telephone interview earlier this week, Matheson said she had no idea who killed the three trees.
"I think new trees should be put up. It leaves a huge hole in the view," she said.
Contacted Friday, Matheson said she had no comment.
Matheson recently sold her corner suite on the third floor of 2015 Beach for $1,695,000 -- more than double the price it fetched when it last changed hands nearly nine years ago.
Suite 302 was listed on the Multiple Listing Service Oct. 15 and sold four days later. B.C. Assessment Authority online information says it last sold Nov. 22, 1995, for $706,000.
Kevin Griffin and Jonathan Fowlie
Vancouver Sun
Saturday, October 30, 2004
A prominent Vancouver interior designer who runs a South Granville store was arrested Friday and held for several hours by Vancouver police in connection with the poisoning of five trees along Beach Avenue near Stanley Park.
Const. Anne Drennan said June Matheson was arrested just before 11:30 a.m. at her apartment in the 2200-block Beach Avenue, taken the Main Street police station and questioned for several hours.
Matheson was released later in the afternoon and ordered to appear in provincial court Dec. 2, although charges have not yet been approved by Crown counsel.
"The investigation found that there were holes drilled in the base of each tree," Drennan said.
A herbicide was then poured into the holes. Three of the trees have been killed, but two may survive.
Drennan said park board staff have estimated that replacing the trees with specimens of equal size could cost $60,000.
J Interiors on South Granville is named after Matheson. The store has attracted clients such as Goldie Hawn, Sarah McLachlan and Bif Naked.
Since news of the poisonings broke, rumours have circulated in the community that a woman in the building across the street was involved, and that she had allegedly done it to improve her view.
"It's been an ongoing thing around here," said James Muteri, a neighbour who sells hotdogs from a cart near the trees.
"People are coming by right, left and centre, some yelling profanities up there," he said pointing to the third floor of the Beach Street building.
"When it happened every single person wanted to do something to that lady," John Dehart, a neighbour, said. "It's unbelievable how up in arms everyone was."
Dehart, who had heard about the arrest from people in the community, said it was a good thing that police may be close to laying charges.
He added that many in the community think a good penalty is for whoever is found guilty of poisoning the trees to have to pay to replant them.
The five trees were poisoned in late spring or early summer in a grassy area overlooking English Bay, not far from the park board offices and Stanley Park.
Police said earlier they were looking into a tip that the person responsible, who later bragged to friends, bought the substance that killed the trees in Washington state, then hired one or more people to inject it into the trees.
The person or persons responsible could face charges of mischief over $5,000, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
In a telephone interview earlier this week, Matheson said she had no idea who killed the three trees.
"I think new trees should be put up. It leaves a huge hole in the view," she said.
Contacted Friday, Matheson said she had no comment.
Matheson recently sold her corner suite on the third floor of 2015 Beach for $1,695,000 -- more than double the price it fetched when it last changed hands nearly nine years ago.
Suite 302 was listed on the Multiple Listing Service Oct. 15 and sold four days later. B.C. Assessment Authority online information says it last sold Nov. 22, 1995, for $706,000.
