Health issues threaten to delay dangerous offender hearing for Teneycke

PENTICTON – The dangerous offender hearing for Ronald Teneycke resumed in Penticton court this morning after being adjourned in May due to a lack of continuous courtroom time.

The hearing may face further delay, however, following revelation this morning, July 31, that Teneycke has cancer.

Crown Prosecutor Murray Kaay told court today he expected to wrap up Crown’s case with a final witness tomorrow, Aug. 1, but defence lawyer Michael Welsh, who said he did not originally plan to call witnesses, said circumstances had changed.

Welsh told Judge Richard Hewson Teneycke had very recently been diagnosed with malignant lymphoma.

“He’s been diagnosed with cancer, and he’s just waiting for some testing to determine what treatment and options are going to be, and what his prognosis is,” Welsh said, adding the diagnosis and prognosis may result in the need for an adjournment on medical grounds.

The Crown is seeking dangerous offender status for Teneycke following a crime spree in July, 2015, that resulted in the shooting of an Oliver man, and a lengthy criminal record spanning two decades.

Teneycke appeared in person in court this morning as Crown called probation officer Trisha Patterson to the stand, where she discussed various forms and conditions of parole.

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