Man found guilty of second-degree murder in Kamloops re-trial

KAMLOOPS – A jury in Kamloops Supreme Court has found Robert Donald Balbar guilty of murdering his girlfriend Heather Hamilll in 2003.

In court it was revealed Balbar killed Hamill by striking her in the head with a hammer. He then stored the body in a cooler before he eventually cast it in the Thompson River.

Four years later, he was arrested after confessing to Hamill's death in an RCMP 'Mr. Big' sting. 

Balbar was tried and convicted of the same charge in 2009, but granted an appeal in 2011. 

He has been in custody for nearly 7 years. 

Prior to reaching a verdict, jurors deliberated for two days and requested to review portions of Balbar's testimony from four days on the stand.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.