Charges dropped against woman who alleged spat on Penticton liquor store employee

A woman accused of spitting on a clerk at a Penticton liquor store at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has had the charges against her dropped.

Jo Ann Marie Murphy, born 1961, was charged with mischief and assault for allegedly spitting on an employee at the Skaha Lake Liquor Store on Nov. 21, 2020.

The matter was set to go to trial today, March 16, but no witnesses showed up in Penticton court so Crown counsel requested, and received, a stay of proceedings.

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The incident garnered quite a bit of attention at the time. Days after, an image of Murphy’s face from the liquor store’s surveillance system was widely publicized to try and identify her. Eventually in March 2021 she was charged.

Police allege the assault was in response to an employee’s request that she wear a mask. In addition to spitting, police also accused Murphy of damaging the employee’s phone.

“Spitting at someone is a concern anytime let alone in the midst of a pandemic,” RCMP Sgt. Jason Bayda said at the time.

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