Opposition MLAs demand change after Kelowna daylight murder

A Kelowna man allegedly killed his ex-wife in broad daylight last week and politicians are demanding action since the justice system knew he was dangerous and let him walk free.

The same day he was convicted on four domestic violence charges, James Edward Plover allegedly killed his ex-wife Bailey Plover, who was going by her maiden name, Bailey McCourt.

Kelowna Centre MLA Kristina Loewen said McCourt had posted online about her fear for her family’s safety and was forwarding threatening messages from Plover to Crown counsel.

“This was preventable. Bailey did everything right. She filed charges. She posted publicly about her fear. And still, despite convictions for choking and threatening her, he was allowed to walk free. That is a catastrophic failure of justice,” Loewen said in a press release.

Loewen and MLA Elenore Sturko are calling for a coroner’s inquest into the circumstances that led up to McCourt’s murder.

“It’s horrific and unforgivable. This man had just been convicted of choking and threatening a woman and was still allowed to walk free. The system failed at every level, and that failure ended in a brutal, preventable murder. This cannot be swept under the rug,” Sturko said.

“This tragedy is a damning indictment of Bill C-75. Even with a conviction for choking and threats, this man was still on bail, until it was too late. What does that say about our justice system’s priorities?” Sturko said.

They said McCourt’s murder is another case that highlights the government’s failure to address the systemic issues in cases of intimate partner violence.

“Kelowna isn’t just grieving, we’re furious. This happened in broad daylight, after the system had every chance to intervene. Bailey’s daughters will now grow up without their mother because our justice system chose delay and denial over protection. That can never happen again,” Loewen said.

The executive director for the Kelowna Women’s Shelter Michelle Dickie said this is a critical moment to advocate for change. 

“Our team at Kelowna Women’s Shelter is deeply saddened by the recent tragedy in Kelowna, where a local mother lost her life to domestic abuse. Our thoughts are with the family, friends and our Okanagan community who are all mourning this devastating loss,” Dickie said in an email. “Now more than ever, we must raise awareness and advocate for change. Domestic abuse is not a private issue; it is a community issue that needs collective effort to create lasting change.”