Bail decision angers Louie supporters

PENTICTON – Friends and family of Roxanne Louie called a decision to grant bail to two people implicated in her death 'an insult.'

Grace and Pier Robotti were granted bail in Penticton court today, March 3 after a decision handed down by Judge Patrice Abrioux.

The pair face a number of conditions including a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and a no contact order between the two. They must report any changes of address to their bail supervisor and cannot leave the province. In addition, they are not to own any weapons and must surrender any weapons they do have.

A small gathering of people from South Okanagan First Nations staged another protest in front of the courthouse prior to the hearing and it grew larger following the judge’s decision. Native drummers and singers could be heard outside the courthouse as Judge Abrioux detailed his decision.

There was noticeable anger in the courthouse hallway and outside following the decision. Media spokesperson for the Louie family, Laurie Wilson, said the decision, which did not find “exceptional circumstances” to keep the Robottis in detention was outrageous.

“What the hell kind of exceptional circumstances do we need?” she said. “This is what we live with. This is going on all over Canada. What do we need to do, throw rocks at the window? There’s no justice for us in this country.”

Abrioux's decision to grant bail is not uncommon among cases involving murder charges.

Don Wilson, Roxanne’s uncle, said the $25,000 bail stipulation was “an insult.”

Grace Robotti faces a charge of second degree murder in the death of Roxanne Louie earlier this year. Her brother, Pier Robotti faces charges of being an accessory after the fact to murder and interference with a dead body.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.