Court anticipates guilty plea from accused murderer

KAMLOOPS – The man accused of the only murder in the Tournament Capital in 2014 will be sentenced later this summer after indicating he’ll plead guilty to second degree murder earlier this month.

Christopher Frank Butler is accused of killing 26-year-old Deanne Wheeler in a Cherry Avenue apartment on December 30 last year. He appeared briefly in Kamloops Supreme Court today, June 22, to fix a date for plea and sentencing. 

Butler is self-represented and has not made a formal plea in court. The accused initially said he was not criminally responsible for the crime by way of a mental disorder. A court-ordered psychiatric assessment determined Butler was fit to stand trial.

During court visits, Butler gestured to the coat of arms, claimed he “slaughtered a demon” and made reference to religion while wearing a large cross.

He is due to return August 5.

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