Convicted Kelowna killer back in court

KELOWNA – A notorious criminal who served more than eight years in jail for helping to kill a drug dealer in 2005 is back behind bars.

Daniel Mader, 31, was convicted in March 2010 of shooting Jody Elliott, who ripped off Mader and three friends. At the time Justice Allison Beames said she accepted that Mader shot Elliott once in the leg and once in the buttock only because he was ordered to do so by Grant Fralic. Mader received the manslaughter sentence after admitting to striking Elliott in the head multiple times with a hammer. The men were arrested during a routine traffic stop when officers found Elliott's head in the vehicle.

According to court documents, Mader is again before the courts, this time for two alleged assaults, unlawful confinement, break and enter, possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose, theft and extortion. The charges relate to an offence allegedly committed in Kelowna on July 31, 2015.

Also charged are Chad Leonard Pare and Matthew John Van Exan.

Pare also has an extensive criminal record and has been charged numerous times with possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, theft, possession of a firearm and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

In 2009 Van Exan was found guilty of possession of a controlled substance.

In April 2015, only one year after he was released from prison for helping kill Elliott, Mader was sentenced to 18 months in jail for using a stolen pickup to ram a police car in Kelowna. His criminal record goes back to 2005 and includes manslaughter, numerous breaches, possession of stolen property, using forged documents and unauthorized use of a credit card.

Mader and Van Exan’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 6.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.