I know this story will throw up a lot of red flags for current and former JW's...
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/news/story.asp?id={80658050-67DE-4D1B-9AF9-8AF8CDFB3C1B} Stabbing victim refuses blood transfusion
| Matt Hoekstra | |
| The Province |
A 20-year-old Surrey man is fighting for his life after being stabbed yesterday and refusing a blood transfusion because of his beliefs.
At 1:45 a.m., the man and his 15-year-old companion approached a youth at the Surrey Central SkyTrain station, believing he was a friend. He was not. Police believe what happened next was a robbery gone wrong.
"They got into a fight and presumably the victim pulled out a knife to defend himself," said Const. Tim Shields of Surrey RCMP.
According to police, the knife was wrestled away from the victim and he was stabbed with his own weapon twice in the leg by the 16-year-old suspect who then fled.
Tracking him with a police dog, police caught the suspect after a five-block chase down streets, alleys, back yards and over fences.
The victim -- who has yet to be named by police -- is at Royal Columbian Hospital in critical, but stable condition after intense bleeding from his wounds.
The man refused blood due to his beliefs, which police did not elaborate on. However, most Jehovah's Witnesses believe it is a sin to accept a blood transfusion.
The suspect faces charges of possession of stolen mail, possession of a Canada Post mailbox key and assault with a weapon. He is well known to police and was wanted on five outstanding warrants.
Prosecutor Melissa Gillespie said that, in a case such as this, if the victim dies upon refusal of life-saving blood, there is no definitive answer as to whether charges of assault would be upgraded to murder.
It would depend on the nature of the injuries and the criminal act itself, she said.
Police are still looking for witnesses.