UPDATE: Kamloops man accused of beating teen with bat ordered to stand trial

KAMLOOPS – A Kamloops man accused of assaulting a Savona teenager with a baseball bat has been ordered to stand trial.

More than 15 people sat in Kamloops Provincial Court today, Jan. 25, to listen to witness testimony from three people on the first day of a preliminary inquiry. Kristopher Teichrieb, born 1977, is charged with attempted murder and assault with a weapon in connection to a June 19, 2016 alleged assault against Savona teenager Jessie Simpson, who was 18 years old at the time.

Provincial Court judge Len Marchand heard cross examination of the three people by defence and Crown lawyers and decided there was enough evidence to proceed with a trial.

The details of the preliminary inquiry cannot be published due to a court ordered publication ban. A preliminary inquiry allows the court to assess evidence in relation to the criminal charges against an accused. 

Teichrieb has elected a trial by Supreme Court judge and jury. Last week, an application was granted by Provincial Court judge Len Marchand to excuse Teichrieb from the hearing.

He will appear in Kamloops Supreme Court next month, Feb. 27, where a date will be set for the beginning of the trial.

On June 19, 2016, Simpson was allegedly assaulted with a baseball bat in the area of Clifford Avenue and Holt Street in Kamloops' Brocklehurst neighbourhood. Friends and family have previously said Simpson had left a graduation party and ended up on Teichrieb's property.

Simpson has been in a coma since the alleged incident and Teichrieb has been in custody ever since. He has been denied bail by both a Provincial Court judge and a Supreme Court judge.

Court documents show since Teichrieb has been in custody, he has been charged with an offence of counselling an indictable offence not committed. The documents state he allegedly counselled someone to commit bodily harm against another person. 

None of the charges against Teichrieb have been proven in court.

The preliminary inquiry was originally scheduled for four days but wrapped up in less than one.

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