Hockey mom attacked outside arena dies in hospital

CTV BC: Attacked mom dies in hospital The 53-year-old woman who was attacked while picking up her son from hockey died Tuesday morning with her family by her side.

The 53-year-old Surrey, B.C. woman who was viciously attacked while picking up her son from a hockey tournament died Tuesday morning with her family by her side.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team confirmed that Julie Paskall succumbed to her injuries in hospital, leaving behind her husband and three children.

Earlier in the day, relative Randy Paskall posted a heartbreaking farewell on Facebook.

“Off to say a last goodbye to a friend and family member of 35 years. One who taught me much in the rules of life, made me a better person, picked me up when I was down, showed me a better road,” he wrote.

“Nothing can bring her back, it will never be the same without her.”

IHIT Sgt. Adam MacIntosh reiterated Tuesday that investigators believe she suffered an unprovoked attack during a purse robbery.

“Both IHIT and the Surrey RCMP [are] continuing to work toward finding out who is responsible,” MacIntosh said in a statement.

Paskall was waiting for her referee son to finish officiating a minor hockey game at Netwon Arena when she was brutally beaten. MacIntosh said Paskall’s assailant may have struck her with a rock that was found at the scene.

“We’re trying to determine exactly how this woman received her injuries,” MacIntosh said Monday. “It’s possible that the rock was a part of that.”

Paskall’s death marks the 25th homicide of the year in Surrey, which broke its previous murder record of 22 in November.

The attack bears similarities to another that took place at a bus loop just a couple hundred metres away from the arena earlier this month. A woman was attacked there on Dec. 16 after stepping off a bus.

No suspects have been identified in either crime, spurring police and even Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts to urge the public to be extra cautious as the investigation continues.

IHIT is now reviewing surveillance tape from the area and appealing to the public to help identify Paskall’s assailant.

Anyone who was in the area of the Newton Arena, Newton bus loop and the Newton Wave Pool between 7-11 p.m. on Dec. 29 and saw a suspicious person or vehicle is asked to call police.

IHIT can be reached at its tip line, 1-877-551-4448, or by email at [e-mail]. Tipsters who wishes to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the SolveCrime.ca website.

With files from The Canadian Press