John Koopmans Murder Trial

Accused in double murder cases pursues mistrial

PENTICTON - The defence lawyer for the man convicted in the double homicide of two Princeton residents and the attempted murder of a third is applying for a mistrial application. Lawyers handling the Koopmans murder trial discussed future court appearances for sentencing and a mistrial application in Penticton Supreme Court today, Aug. 24. John Ike...

Koopmans sentencing delayed

PENTICTON - Crown and defence counsel continue to work toward a date for sentencing in the John Koopmans murder trial. A hearing to fix a date for sentencing was adjourned this morning, July 13, as both counsels await a pre-sentence report. Defence lawyer John Skogstad told Penticton court via telephone he and Crown prosecutor Frank...

KOOPMANS TRIAL: Key witnesses can’t be trusted: Defence

PENTICTON - The lawyer for John Koopmans attacked the credibility of key Crown witnesses—including one of the complainants—telling jurors they can’t be believed. Don Skogstad got his chance in Penticton Supreme Court today, April 7, to make some sense of six weeks of evidence the 12-member jury heard in the double murder trial. John Ike...

KOOPMANS TRIAL: Accused had no ill will toward shooting victim: Friend

PENTICTON - The last witness in the John Koopmans murder trial said he’d never seen the accused show any ill will towards victim Keith Wharton. Robert Hart, a friend of Koopmans, testified if Koopmans had guns, he was unaware of it, calling him an “even-tempered man” who he had never seen angry. The double murder...