ACCUSED'S DAD HOPES JAIL WILL HELP DRUG-ADDICTED SON

The father of a drug addict who caused the death of a pastor while
fleeing police in a stolen SUV last week is hoping a jail term will
get his son back on the straight and narrow.

Benjamin Bleinis was intending to plead guilty yesterday to criminal
negligence causing death, but his lawyer, Danny Markovitz, said the
case was put over until April 19 so Crown counsel could gather more
evidence to formulate a position on sentencing.

Roman Bleinis said he feels deeply for the family and friends of the
victim, Pastor Joseph Chan, 32.

"My heart goes out to them," he told reporters outside Richmond
Provincial Court.

But the tragedy has also taken its toll on his family.

"We have a son, 23 years old. He had a bright future, and he's stuck
on drugs," said Roman Bleinis.

"I have always been telling Ben, 'Even for a little crime, I wish they
would give you at least one year [in jail], and you can get over your
drug addiction and drop it.'"

Galina Bleinis echoed her husband's feelings.

Two weeks before killing Chan, Ben Bleinis came to her, begging her to
find a bed for him in a detox centre, she said. "They called the next
day and said, 'Come.'"

But Ben had lost his nerve and refused the help he needed, she
said.

"He said, 'I don't want this life. I want to change, but I don't know
how,'" she said.

Asked how long he thought his son would need to conquer his demons,
Roman Bleinis took a deep breath and replied: "I can't say. Probably
it takes a couple years."

Ben Bleinis delivered a heartfelt, televised apology from jail on
Saturday, breaking down in tears as he took responsibility for killing
Chan and expressed his remorse.

Roman Bleinis said his son has tried to kick his addiction to heroin
and crack cocaine.

"As you know, at a detox centre, you go in freely and you go out
freely. That should be changed."

Ben was facing a lesser charge of dangerous driving causing death,
which was raised to criminal negligence causing death, a crime that
carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He is also facing one
count of possession of stolen property and one count of breaching
conditions of a previous sentence.

Ben was being pursued Monday afternoon in central Richmond by the
RCMP, who have denied the incident was a high-speed chase. He was
spotted by an off-duty officer who recognized him at the wheel of an
expensive Land Rover.

Markovitz criticized the Richmond police for chasing Bleinis at all,
saying there was no need to arrest him that afternoon.

Bleinis was living with his sister in Coquitlam at the time, a fact
the Mounties could easily have determined "with a little legwork,"
said Markovitz.

Markovitz said Bleinis admitted he was high last Monday afternoon and
had a $200-a-day addiction to heroin and crack.