A man accused of murdering two people and wounding a third appeared for the first time in Penticton Provincial Court on Wednesday via video.

John Ike Koopmans, 49, is charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in connection to the deaths of two Princeton residents. Robert Wharton, 44, and Rose Fox, 32, were found dead at a property on Old Hedley Road. RCMP also found a wounded man, 48, who has since been taken to hospital. Police would not release his name.

A date for Koopmans preliminary inquiry is expected to be set on May 29.

After the brief Wednesday appearance a woman who identified herself as the mother of Wharton's child sobbed as she left the building. She declined to comment on the case.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065.