Presence of Hells Angels at Delta teen's funeral misinterpreted: Spokesman

OFF THE WIRE
BY: Cassidy Olivier
Source: theprovince.com
The attendance of Hells Angels’ members at the private funeral of murdered Delta teen Laura Szendrei was nothing more than friends paying their respects to a family in grief, according to a member of the biker club.

Rick Ciarniello, a member of the Vancouver chapter, told the Province Friday the media had read too much into the admission by Delta police Sgt. Sharlene Brooks that members of the club had attended the Wednesday service.

Brooks had been responding to a question from a reporter at a Thursday press conference held to provide an update into the Sept. 25 assault on Szendrei in the wooded area of Delta’s Mackie Park. Szendrei died the next day in hospital.

Brooks confirmed members of the biker club had attended to pay their respects to a friend who had lost their daughter — something Ciarniello substantiated.

“This is not a Hells Angels story,” he said. “This is a tragedy that happened to a young girl and her family’s grief — it’s got nothing to do with the Hells Angels.”

Ciarniello said Laura’s father, Michael Szendrei, is not a member of the biker club, but does have friends in the organization. It is his understanding that Szendrei, who he said he “barely knows,” grew up with some of the group’s current members.

When asked about pictures uncovered by the Province which shows a man believed to be Szendrei in HA gear, Ciarniello said the clothes would be “support gear at best.”

“He’s not wearing a Hells Angels patch,” he said. “He’s got some friends that are Hells Angels. That’s all there is to it, [there’s] simply nothing more to it.”

Meantime, an online post by a woman identifying herself as Laura’s first cousin confirms reports that Szendrei was attacked with a baseball bat.

The post said Szendrei suffered a heart attack at hospital, swelling of the brain, and was later put on life support. She died around 4 a.m. Sept. 26th, according to the post.

Delta police are asking anyone with information to call 604-946-4411.

colivier@theprovince.com
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