Accused Kelowna killer’s trial moving to Kamloops

KELOWNA – The new trial for the man convicted of manslaughter in a 1993 killing that remained a cold case for nearly two decades will be held in Kamloops.

A change of venue application by Neil Snelson was approved in B.C. Supreme Court Monday, according to Global Okanagan.

Snelson’s lawyer argued media coverage from his client’s first trial tainted the jury pool in Kelowna.

Snelson was convicted in October, 2011 in the death of Jennifer Cusworth, 19, a college student who was beaten and strangled to death in Kelowna in 1993. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The B.C. Court of Appeal overturned the verdict based on the defense argument that the trial judge was wrong to allow a portion of a police interview with Snelson into evidence and then allow the Crown to tell the jury his comments to police indicated he was guilty.

Snelson has been in prison waiting for his new trial. He hasn’t applied for bail.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.