B.C. Digest

Convicted pimp denied application for bail

B.C. Court of Appeal Justice Jo-Ann Prowse decided Steven Chow is a risk for re-offending and has shown an unwillingness to comply with rules or directions from those in authority.

"He also exhibits a defiant if not belligerent attitude to his [Matsqui prison] keepers," the judge said in a written judgment released Tuesday.

The judge based her decision to deny bail on reports by two psychologists and prison officials about Chow's behavior while serving the 42-month prison sentence imposed after his conviction.

Chow was convicted on March 26, 1996, by a B.C. Supreme Court jury of procuring two girls to become prostitutes -- they are identified only by the initials W.D. and T.G. because they are juveniles.

He was also convicted of living off the avails of prostitution from a person under the age of 18 and attempting to obstruct justice by attempting to dissuade a witness from testifying.

The trial judge entered a conditional stay of proceedings on a further count of uttering a threat to cause death or bodily harm to one of the complainants.

Chow's appeal, which is scheduled for Feb. 13, will consider "fresh evidence" of the complainant W.D., who has partly recanted her trial testimony.

W.D., who was cross-examined before an appeal court judge, admitted she lied to police and to the court about "various matters relating to her involvement with Mr. Chow," the judge noted.

"The admissibility and significance of this evidence will ultimately be determined by the panel of the court hearing this appeal," the judge added.

Chow's lawyer, Jim Millar, had argued his client should be released on $10,000 bail.