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VANCOUVER, Apr 25 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A 1996 assault by feminists organizing the International Women’s Day (IWD) in Vancouver finally went to court last week for two preliminary days of hearings.  The case of assault on Cecilia von Dehn and Peggy Holland of Concerned Nurses for PRICE (Patients Rights Informed Consent Ethics) was heard on April 19 and 20.

The two women attended a supposedly open November 1996 planning meeting for IWD as representatives of PRICE – a women’s group. Organizers of the meeting recognized the pair for their pro-life activities and banned them from the meeting room, shutting the door, blocking the window with cardboard, and posting a “guard” outside the room. The pair took photographs of the scene and were leaving when about seven women emerged from the meeting room and tackled Mrs. von Dehn to the floor attempting to get her camera. Mrs. von Dehn told LifeSite that she was punched, kicked and grabbed, but managed to hold on to the camera, which was pinned underneath her. When Mrs. Holland intervened she was also assaulted.

One of the feminists dangled Mrs. von Dehn’s wallet and cell phone in her face offering them back in exchange for the camera. After a bystander approached, the feminists removed themselves from Mrs. von Dehn and her belongings were returned.  Police were called and recommended that charges be laid. Later, however, the Crown spent six months investigating the matter before finally deciding that laying charges was “not in the public interest”. Even after complaints were made to a Justice of the Peace and a second recommendation for charges was made, the Crown continued in its refusal. Finally Mrs. von Dehn hired legal counsel to take the case to court resulting in the preliminary hearings last week. Stay tuned to LifeSite for updates on this story.