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Alberta violent offender convicted following Nanaimo arrest

NANAIMO – Violent offender arrested in Nanaimo gets 15 years for attempted murder in Edmonton court.

An Alberta man arrested in Nanaimo received a sentence of 15 years in prison Thursday for attempted murder of his girlfriend.

Zachary Holland, 26, was arrested in Nanaimo in early October for causing a disturbance on Doric Avenue.

After doing background checks, Nanaimo Mounties discovered through fingerprint records in Ottawa that Holland was wanted for attempted murder in Edmonton following a violent attack in July against his girlfriend who he had clubbed over the head with a toilet tank lid, lit a fire in her apartment bedroom and left her there to die.

The woman was seriously burned, but managed to escape the fire.

That attack happened while Holland was out on bail for allegedly attacking another woman he was dating in March. She suffered multiple broken bones, cuts and bruises after he allegedly forced her into his car and dragged her by the hair as she dangled out of the vehicle.

Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, gave kudos to the arresting officers for following up on their "spidey senses" when something didn't feel right about their suspect.

"Just because there's a warrant out for someone doesn't mean an officer will know about it," O'Brien said. "At any one time there are 300 active warrants in Nanaimo."



Chris Bush

About the Author: Chris Bush

As a photographer/reporter with the Nanaimo News Bulletin since 1998.
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