Crown looking for new senior counsel in Robotti murder trial

PENTICTON – The court proceedings the brother and sister charged with murder in connection of the death of Roxanne Louis came to a temporary halt in Penticton court today.

A pre-trial conference for Grace Robotti, 67 and Pier Robotti, 63, the co-accused in the murder of 26 year old Roxanne Louis in early January 2015, was delayed in Penticton Supreme Court this morning, April 1, after Crown prosecutor Nashina Devji requested an adjournment to allow time for Crown to select senior counsel.

Former Crown prosecutor for the trial, Iain Currie, is no longer available for the trial. 

Defence lawyer for Pier Robotti, Don Skogstad, told court he was anxious to see the trial move ahead.

Grace Robotti's defence lawyer James Pennington says he understood Crown’s position and requested a resumption of proceedings on April 25.

Grace Robotti reported Louie missing to police after she failed to catch a flight out of Penticton on Jan. 6, 2015. Her body was later recovered on a logging road northeast of Naramata.

The two accused will stand trial for second degree murder following a decision in a preliminary hearing earlier this year.


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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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