Attack in pub seen as gay-bashing

[wahyinghung]

An attack in a West End bar that left a 62-year-old father of two in grave condition in hospital was a hate crime, an eye witness told The Province yesterday.

Lindsay Wincherauk said he was in the Fountainhead Pub on Davie Street Friday night when a man in his 30s punched his friend, Richie Dowrey, in the face without warning or any apparent reason.

"There was absolutely no argument," Wincherauk said.

"Richie was just standing by the pool table and this guy just turned, pulled his hand back and punched [Richie]."

Wincherauk said the two men had played a game of pool about 20 minutes earlier, but he didn't see any hostility between them.

Wincherauk said that after Dowrey hit the floor, the man who threw the punch walked out of the pub and "casually sauntered" down Davie Street with a friend who had come to the pub with him.

Wincherauk said he and some of the pub's patrons followed the man and stopped him on the street to wait for police.

"I asked the guy why he had done it, and he said, 'Because he's a faggot. I'm not a fag. The faggot touched me. He deserved it.'

"He just kept saying those same words over and over again."

Wincherauk described the Fountainhead as "a nice place."

"People might assume, because it's on Davie, people are gay here. Probably 30 to 40 per cent of the people aren't," he said.

"They just come here because it's a neighbourhood pub."

Wincherauk said Dowrey has "two children -- he's a great man."

"He's very kind, generous, encouraging, not an ounce of negative energy in him."

Wincherauk said the sound of Dowrey's head hitting the pub's tile floor was sickening.

"The first thing that contacted the floor was the back of his head."

Vancouver police said Dowrey is in "grave condition" in hospital with a head injury.

Shawn Woodward, 35, of Vancouver is charged with one count of aggravated assault. His next court appearance is set for Friday.
Copyright (c) The Province

[RTS]

Thank you Anderson