Suspect arrested in homicide of B.C. hockey mom

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the killing of Surrey, B.C., hockey mom Julie Paskall,the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team confirmed late Friday.

No charges have been laid, but an IHIT email says more details will be provided at a news conference at 2 p.m. PT. Saturday, May 24.

Paskall, a 53-year-old mother of three was brutally assaulted in the parking lot of the Newton Arena while waiting to pick up her teenage son, Cailean, who was refereeing a hockey game the night of Dec. 29last year.

She was taken to hospital where she was put on life-support, but she died days later onNew Year's Eve.

Police at the time described the attack as a robbery gone wrong.

Parents relieved

Parents bringing their children to the Newton Arena Friday afternoon expressed relief.

Dana Wood said she feels a little safer.

"Coming here with my son, knowing that something like that could happen to somebody... it's scary. So it's awesome that they've caught him," she said.

Jenn Evans says it's nice to have an arrest, but the increased police presence and work that's been done around the arena since Paskall's murder is just as important.

Everything has been cleaned up," she said. "The trees have been cleaned up. We can see what's going on."

"It's a lot harder for people to lurk around. We come here often with the kids. Just making an arrest is important, but Just being here all the time, cleaning up the neighbourhood [is also important]."

• Surrey hockey mom Julie Paskall dies after attack at arena
• Julie Paskall's husband: 'She was the love of my life'
• Hundreds attend vigil for Julie Paskall in North Surrey

Following Paskall's death, Central Surrey residents came forward with a litany of safety complaints.

A crime task force convened by Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts later recommended the hiring of an additional 24 police officers.

Google Map: Newton Arena