Long wait for police report in Roxanne Louie murder

PENTICTON – Family and friends of Roxanne Louie aren't the only ones complaining about how the wheels of justice are turning — a lawyer defending the woman accused of Louie's murder says there are "unusual" delays in the case.

James Pennington, counsel for Grace Robotti, who is charged with second degree murder, told members of the media today, March 25, he still doesn't have disclosure from the Crown. He made a brief appearance in court this morning and later expressed his frustration.

“We’ve been waiting since the 11th of January. How long does it take to type a statement? We know the police don’t care about our clients, but this is a callous disregard for the family,” Pennington said, describing the lengthy delay as “unusual”.

While Pennington vented to the media on behalf of his client today, at nearly every court appearance, family and friends of Louie have held protests and general denouncements of the judicial system and the lack of justice for missing and murdered native women across Canada.

The court appearance involved an application to expedite police statements to defence counsel surrounding the murder of Roxanne Louie. Pier Louis Robotti, Grace's brother, is charged with interference with a dead body and accessory after the fact to murder. The Robottis have been charged with her murder and subsequent dumping of her body in the Chute Lake area above Naramata in early January, 2015. The Robottis were recently released on bail.

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.