Vernon chiropractor convicted of sexually assaulting patient launching appeal

A Vernon chiropractor sentenced to six months of house arrest for sexually assaulting a patient is appealing his conviction.

Coldstream resident Murray Kievit is scheduled to appear in court in June to challenge his conviction. 

In January, Kievit, who has a history of sexual misconduct involving his patients, was sentenced to six months house arrest having been convicted of sexually assaulting a patient during a treatment session in 2021.

He’d gained the patient’s trust over several appointments before he sexually assaulted the woman. The judge found Kievit removed her underwear and touched her in a way that was “not clinically justifiable.”

The victim said she felt “violated, degraded, and dehumanized” by the chiropractor’s actions, which had a lasting effect on her.

Kievit showed no remorse for what he did and chose not to address the court when given the opportunity. 

Crown prosecutors had wanted Kievit to do five months jail, but BC Provincial Court Judge David Ruse instead ruled on six months house arrest, followed by a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. The 61-year-old gets to spend the time in his $1.2-million, 2,500-square-foot, five-bedroom, three-bathroom home in an upmarket neighbourhood in Coldstream.

If Kievit is granted the right to appeal, it’s likely another trial would take place, and the victim would have to testify all over again.

He is also now making moves to be placed on bail pending the appeal.

Following the charges, Kievit sold his business, the White House Wellness Centre and was stripped of his licence. 

While this was his first conviction, he does have a history of sexual misconduct.

In the late 1990s, he was charged with sexually assaulting six of his patients, but was later acquitted after trial.

However, the regulator took action against him, fined him $4,000 and ordered him to pay $15,000 in costs.

Ten years later, he put his hands down the front of a woman’s pants without her consent and was suspended for three months and ordered to pay $3,900.