MURDERED MAN A 'GENTLE, GOOD NEIGHBOUR'

The murder of Paul Alguire at his Heather Street home last week appears
to be as complex as the neighbourhood where he lived.

The 40-year-old man was found dead of a gunshot wound Friday, and was
believed to have been dead for a day or two. Police found as many as 60
marijuana plants in his house, but say they don't believe it is linked
to the murder.

RCMP Const. Peter Thiessen said the marijuana plants were immature and
weren't worth stealing, describing the grow-up as insignificant as far
as grow-ops go.

This is the second violent incident in the neighbourhood involving a
marijuana growing operation in just two weeks.

Police are tight-lipped on details, but say they have assigned about 15
staff members to investigate the homicide. Work crews had cleared the
brush on an empty lot across the street Tuesday, and were using
pitchforks in the search for any evidence.

Alguire had rented the house at 7771 Heather St. for about three years,
in a neighbourhood where many residences are rental properties.
Although a smoker who also liked his beer, his neighbours say they had
no indication that he was growing pot, and doubt he was selling it.

Janet Ludlam, who lives next door, said Alguire was quiet and had a
self-deprecating way about him.

"He was a gentle, good neighbour," said Ludlam. A self-employed
gardener, Alguire would often share his expertise with Ludlam on
dealing with weeds, or tips on maintaining her lawnmower.

Alguire kept to himself mostly, but Ludlam said when he was out on the
street, "he always wanted to stop and have a chat." He could often be
seen walking down to the offsales at JP Malones to pick up a half sack
of beer for the weekend.

Although she said she can't be sure what it was, Ludlam said she heard
a loud bang - "like a shotgun" - last Wednesday night, sometime between
10:30 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Ludlam said there are a lot of unsavory elements in the neighbourhood,
but that Alguire wasn't one of them. In recent years, the city and the
school district have purchased many nearby homes to make way for a new
school and park. In the meantime, many of the homes are rented out.

Although there are many rental properties, there are also numerous long-
term residents, some who have lived in the area 50 years or more.
Ludlam says the area is actually quite close-knit.

However, there has been a lot of mischief in the area, such as B&Es and
noisy parties, Ludlam said.

"It's not what I grew up with," said another neighbour, who said she's
lived in her home since 1948.

Two weeks ago a bound man, bleeding from the head, was discovered
wandering in the area. Police discovered that he had been tied up while
thieves plundered his grow operation at 7140 Ash Street. Police say
they don't believe there is a connection between Alguire's murder and
that case.

A relative of Alguire's, who did not want to be named, said Paul liked
to read, had a lot of friends and if anyone was ever in need, he was
the kind of guy to give them the shirt off his back.

"He'll be sadly missed by friends and family. It was a terrible way to
go."