Lawyers will meet on September 8 to fix a date for a sentencing hearing and a mistrial application in the John Koopmans murder trial. Photographer: Steve Arstad

Accused in double murder cases pursues mistrial

PENTICTON – The defence lawyer for the man convicted in the double homicide of two Princeton residents and the attempted murder of a third is applying for a mistrial application.

Lawyers handling the Koopmans murder trial discussed future court appearances for sentencing and a mistrial application in Penticton Supreme Court today, Aug. 24.

John Ike Koopmans, 51, was convicted of two counts of second degree murder and one count of attempted murder on April 11, after a lengthy jury trial in Penticton earlier this year.

Crown Prosecutor Frank Dubenski told Judge Kenneth Affleck via telephone in Penticton Supreme Court that he and defence lawyer Don Skogstad would need one day to deal with a mistrial application over Koopman’s attempted murder charge, and two days for a sentencing hearing.

The parties will meet again on September 8 to fix dates for both matters.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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