Charges for co-accused in Roxanne Louie death upgraded

PENTICTON – Charges against one of the accused in the killing of Roxanne Louie have been upgraded, suggesting police believe his role in Louie's death was greater than they originally believed.

Pier Louis Robotti, 62, was arrested again Friday, Aug. 21 and charged with second degree murder. He was first charged with interfering with a dead body and accessory to murder after the fact in the case of 26-year-old Roxanne Louie, who was killed on or about Jan. 4, 2015. Robotti appeared before Judge Kenneth Affleck to hear bail terms today, Aug. 24.

Louie’s body was found north of Naramata days after her disappearance was reported by Grace Robotti on January 4. Grace, Pier's sister, also faces a second-degree murder charge in Louie's death.

Louie, a Vancouver resident, had been visiting friends and family in the Okanagan and staying at the Robotti residence at the time of her murder. Grace Robotti, 63, originally reported Louie as going to a friend’s house the night before she was scheduled to return to her residence in Vancouver.

Pier Robotti faced similar bail conditions originally received from the earlier charges. His next court date is Monday, August 31 to fix a date for a preliminary hearing, unless both counsels arrange a date beforehand, said Crown counsel Iain Currie, who would not disclose a reason for issuing new charges against Robotti.

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