Debi Johnstone recalled the words as she took the stand on the opening day of McCallum’s public trial on Monday. Johnstone is the woman McCallum is accused of running over his leg with her car after an argument in a Save-On-Foods parking lot on Sept. 4, 2021 — an allegation the 66-year-old denied. In peppered testimony, the pensioner admitted she and McCallum had an “unpleasant” exchange in a “heated conversation” as she sat in her open Mustang and he stood nearby. But he said he didn’t feel anything unusual or unexpected as he left. “His face is kind of flaky and scaly, so I referred to him as scaly-faced… I called him a scaly-faced mom–ker,” Johnstone said. “He told me I was a big mouth, a loud mouth – which meant I was no good for Surrey.”
Suspicion of an “offence not committed”
Johnston was the first witness to take the stand Monday in a trial eagerly awaited by observers of Surrey politics. Crown prosecutor Richard Fowler called her after briefly outlining the Crown’s case against McCallum, who was voted out of office earlier this month. He said McCallum was charged under a section of the Criminal Code which defines public disorder as something that “intends to cause another person to be suspected of an offense which he has not committed”. In the case at bar, Fowler told Judge Reg Harris the Crown would present evidence from CCTV footage of the encounter as well as police statements. “The question will ultimately be whether Mr. McCallum intended to mislead the police by making false statements to the police with the intent of suspecting Ms. Johnston of committing an offense that she did not,” Fowler said. Former Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum is pictured entering Surrey Provincial Court for the first day of his trial in Surrey, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
“I really want to chase her”
As the proceedings began, McCallum took the stand and said the words “not guilty” when the judge asked him how he wanted to plead. Fowler then recounted minute by minute the events leading up to the charge, beginning with the confrontation in the parking lot where Johnston was to join other members of a group opposed to McCallum’s plans for a municipal police force. The prosecutor said McCallum was finally doing his shopping when he claimed Johnstone had run over his leg and that he later contacted the RCMP and went to Peace Arch Hospital. Hours after calling a police dispatcher, McCallum gave a 60 Minutes statement in which Fowler said he told police, “Ms. Johnston got in her car and pretty much pinned him in the back of his car.” The prosecutor claimed McCallum also told police: “I really want to go after her.” McCallum sat at a table next to members of his legal team behind ace defense attorney Richard Peck. After being called to the stand, Johnston stepped up to the elevated stand where she would give her testimony and fixed her eyes on the outgoing mayor — looking directly at him until Fowler stepped between them.
“The worst mayor Surrey has ever had”
Johnstone said she is a retired sales manager with three grown children who has lived in Surrey for the past 13 years. She attended the mall as a volunteer to collect signatures for a petition to keep the RCMP in Surrey. She claimed she drove through the parking lot in her Mustang convertible. It had the top down. He said he saw a man he thought was McCallum and knew it was him as he went to put on a mask. “I called him out,” Johnstone told Fowler. “I said, ‘Resign, McCallum.’ She claimed McCallum then came towards her and stood on a small embankment next to a bush as they walked behind each other. “I told him he was the worst mayor Surrey ever had. I told him he was mean. I told him he was a liar,” Johnstone said. Fowler asked if she might have called him “dumb.” “Oh, probably,” replied Johnston. A video later released in court showed the outgoing mayor standing near Johnstone’s car and talking after she drove through a parking spot. The video appeared to show McCallum walking away towards the store after Johnstone left. He didn’t seem to be limping.
“You do this kind of thing to intimidate”
Under cross-examination, Johnstone was questioned about her use of profanity and her previous presence at McCallum’s home. Peck played clips of her calling members of the mayor’s new municipal police “scabs” and “whores” at an earlier rally. “You do these kinds of things to intimidate,” Peck said. “I don’t know how I can intimidate a police force. I do it to be heard,” Johnstone replied. “You’re doing it to intimidate and instill fear in people,” Peck said. The defense lawyer also questioned Johnstone about calling McCallum a “scaly face” and asked if it was “her habit to put people down because their face has some kind of disability.” “Just McCallum,” he said. Peck asked Johnston if she blamed McCallum for a number of incidents, including someone leaving dog feces on her doorstep and an incident in which she claimed someone pulled a gun on her. He stated that he ultimately believed he was responsible. Peck said she had no basis for that claim. Johnstone also admitted she thought it was her “lucky day” when she saw McCallum in the parking lot. She said she was standing less than two feet away from her car as they argued and that she couldn’t see his feet as he drove away. “Were you worried as you completed your series arc that your car might come into contact with him?” Ask. “No,” said Johnston. The trial is scheduled for seven days. Fowler said a police officer is also expected to testify. It is unclear whether McCallum will take the stand.
title: “Witness In Surrey S Outgoing Mayor S Trial Testifies She Told Him She Would Be The One To Bring Him Down " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-01” author: “Linda Pennebaker”
Debi Johnstone recalled the words as she took the stand on the opening day of McCallum’s public trial on Monday. Johnstone is the woman McCallum is accused of running over his leg with her car after an argument in a Save-On-Foods parking lot on Sept. 4, 2021 — an allegation the 66-year-old denied. In peppered testimony, the pensioner admitted she and McCallum had an “unpleasant” exchange in a “heated conversation” as she sat in her open Mustang and he stood nearby. But he said he didn’t feel anything unusual or unexpected as he left. “His face is kind of flaky and scaly, so I referred to him as scaly-faced… I called him a scaly-faced mom–ker,” Johnstone said. “He told me I was a big mouth, a loud mouth – which meant I was no good for Surrey.”
Suspicion of an “offence not committed”
Johnston was the first witness to take the stand Monday in a trial eagerly awaited by observers of Surrey politics. Crown prosecutor Richard Fowler called her after briefly outlining the Crown’s case against McCallum, who was voted out of office earlier this month. He said McCallum was charged under a section of the Criminal Code which defines public disorder as something that “intends to cause another person to be suspected of an offense which he has not committed”. WATCHES | CCTV footage of the meeting between Doug McCallum and Debi Johnstone:
CCTV footage of the meeting between Doug McCallum and Debi Johnstone
The Save-On-Foods CCTV was shown at the public trial of outgoing Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum. The video captures a meeting between McCallum and Debi Johnstone, who is behind the wheel of a silver Mustang. The two are seen arguing before Johnstone walks away and McCallum walks towards the store and through the entrance. In the case at bar, Fowler told Judge Reg Harris the Crown would present evidence from CCTV footage of the encounter as well as police statements. “The question will ultimately be whether Mr. McCallum intended to mislead the police by making false statements to the police with the intent of suspecting Ms. Johnston of committing an offense that she did not,” Fowler said.
“I really want to chase her”
As the proceedings began, McCallum took the stand and said the words “not guilty” when the judge asked him how he wanted to plead. Fowler then recounted minute by minute the events leading up to the charge, beginning with the confrontation in the parking lot where Johnston was to join other members of a group opposed to McCallum’s plans for a municipal police force. The prosecutor said McCallum was finally doing his shopping when he claimed Johnstone had run over his leg and that he later contacted the RCMP and went to Peace Arch Hospital. Former Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum is pictured entering Surrey Provincial Court for the first day of his trial in Surrey, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Hours after calling a police dispatcher, McCallum gave a 60 Minutes statement in which Fowler said he told police, “Ms. Johnston got in her car and pretty much pinned him in the back of his car.” The prosecutor claimed McCallum also told police: “I really want to go after her.” McCallum sat at a table next to members of his legal team behind ace defense attorney Richard Peck. After being called to the stand, Johnston stepped up to the elevated stand where she would give her testimony and fixed her eyes on the outgoing mayor — looking directly at him until Fowler stepped between them.
“The worst mayor Surrey has ever had”
Johnstone said she is a retired sales manager with three grown children who has lived in Surrey for the past 13 years. She attended the mall as a volunteer to collect signatures for a petition to keep the RCMP in Surrey. She claimed she drove through the parking lot in her Mustang convertible. It had the top down. He said he saw a man he thought was McCallum and knew it was him as he went to put on a mask. “I called him out,” Johnstone told Fowler. “I said, ‘Resign, McCallum.’ She claimed McCallum then came towards her and stood on a small embankment next to a bush as they walked behind each other. “I told him he was the worst mayor Surrey ever had. I told him he was mean. I told him he was a liar,” Johnstone said. Fowler asked if she might have called him “dumb.” “Oh, probably,” replied Johnston. A video later released in court showed the outgoing mayor standing near Johnstone’s car and talking after she drove through a parking spot. The video appeared to show McCallum walking away towards the store after Johnstone left. He didn’t seem to be limping.
“You do this kind of thing to intimidate”
Under cross-examination, Johnstone was questioned about her use of profanity and her previous presence at McCallum’s home. Peck played clips of her calling members of the mayor’s new municipal police “scabs” and “whores” at an earlier rally. “You do these kinds of things to intimidate,” Peck said. “I don’t know how I can intimidate a police force. I do it to be heard,” Johnstone replied. “You’re doing it to intimidate and instill fear in people,” Peck said. The defense lawyer also questioned Johnstone about calling McCallum a “scaly face” and asked if it was “her habit to put people down because their face has some kind of disability.” “Just McCallum,” he said. Peck asked Johnston if she blamed McCallum for a number of incidents, including someone leaving dog feces on her doorstep and an incident in which she claimed someone pulled a gun on her. He stated that he ultimately believed he was responsible. Peck said she had no basis for that claim. Johnstone also admitted she thought it was her “lucky day” when she saw McCallum in the parking lot. She said she was standing less than two feet away from her car as they argued and that she couldn’t see his feet as he drove away. “Were you worried as you completed your series arc that your car might come into contact with him?” Ask. “No,” said Johnston. The trial is scheduled for seven days. Fowler said a police officer is also expected to testify. It is unclear whether McCallum will take the stand.
