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Murder

RCMP confirm death at Penticton motel was murder

PENTICTON – Seven days after shots were fired and a man’s body was found at a home in Penticton, police have confirmed the death as a homicide today. RCMP have also confirmed the murder victim’s name. Darren Leadbeater, 36, of Penticton was originally from Fort McMurray, Alta. Police responded to a call about shots fired...

Convicted murderer who rammed police in stolen truck released

KELOWNA – A convicted murderer who Justice Peter Rogers calls a 'serial criminal' will be released from custody later today despite using a stolen truck to ram a police car just one year after being released from prison. Daniel Mader, 31, was sentenced to time served Wednesday in Kelowna Supreme Court. He pleaded guilty to...

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...

KOOPMANS TRIAL: ‘You were there to settle a score:’ Crown

PENTICTON - Crown Prosecutor Frank Dubenski continued to pummel accused murderer John Koopmans with questions regarding Koopmans’ strange social behaviour the night three people were shot in Princeton. In Koopmans' third day on the stand in his own defence today, March 30, Dubenski demanded to know why he would walk for miles late in the...

KOOPMANS TRIAL: Crown challenges Koopmans’ story

"YOU KNOW DAMN WELL THERE IS NO .357 THERE — YOU SENT THEM ON A WILD GOOSE CHASE." PENTICTON - Crown Prosecutor Frank Dubenski hammered accused murderer John Ike Koopmans during cross examination today with questions about a missing handgun Koopmans said he disposed of long before a similar weapon was used once kill two...

KOOPMANS TRIAL: Police waited nearly three hours to inspect crime scene amid chaos

PENTICTON - Police arriving on scene following a report of a double homicide in Princeton found themselves overwhelmed by a chaotic scene, court was told Wednesday. A police officer who acted as primary investigator for the homicides said he found the suspected murder weapon and produced for the jury today, March 25, photographic evidence that...

Accused in murder case to act as own lawyer, claims mental disorder

KAMLOOPS – The man accused of murdering a 26-year-old in his Cherry Avenue apartment says he will represent himself in his trial to pursue a not criminally responsible due to mental disorder defence. Christopher Frank Butler, born 1973, made a brief video appearance in Kamloops Provincial Court Monday morning where he told a Justice of...

KOOPMANS TRIAL: Court hears bizarre testimony from key witness

PENTICTON - Witness testimony in the Koopmans murder trial took on a decidedly different direction as a key witness took the stand for a second day. Bradley Martin continued his testimony today, March 5, in Penticton Supreme Court in the trial of John Ike Koopmans, who is charged with two counts of first degree murder and...

KOOPMANS TRIAL: Mother describes finding her son shot

'I TOLD THE POLICE TO PLEASE GO HELP MY SON, HE'S STILL BREATHING....' PENTICTON - Jurors in the John Ike Koopmans murder trial heard dramatic testimony today, Feb. 3, as the mother of shooting victim Keith Wharton described finding her son and his girlfriend dead in their Princeton trailer. Carol Wharton’s voice broke as she...

Accused in Clearwater murder case awaiting bail review

KAMLOOPS – A man accused of murdering his former common-law wife and taking their three children hostage will find out if he is eligible for bail in a week. Iain Drummond Scott, born 1972, appeared for a bail review last week in Kamloops Supreme Court. Details of the hearing are covered by a publication ban...

Lillooet assault now a murder investigation

LILLOOET - A 43-year-old Lillooet man could be charged with murder after the man he's accused of assaulting died of his injuries. The incident happened Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015 at 3:04 p.m. on the 300 block of Mitchell Road in Lillooet. Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police were called to investigate a report of a serious assault and...

Judge to hear evidence against Lumby man accused of murder

VERNON - A Lumby man accused of murdering his girlfriend, a local teacher, is before a provincial court judge this week. A preliminary inquiry for Howard Everett Krewson, also known as Howard Everett, began Wednesday, Feb. 4 and is scheduled to last five days. Krewson, 55, was charged with the second degree murder of Linda...

2014 NEWSMAKER OF THE YEAR: Matthew Foerster, convicted murderer

THIS WEEK, INFONEWS.CA IS COUNTING DOWN THE TOP FIVE NEWSMAKERS OF THE YEAR. ARMSTRONG - A murder trial into the death of an Armstrong teen concluded in 2014, putting the Cherryville man at its center behind bars for at least 25 years. The gruesome details of 18-year-old Taylor Van Diest’s murder at the hands of...

UPDATE: Name of suspect released in Cherry Avenue homicide; residents react

KAMLOOPS - Police have now filed murder charges against a resident of the 435 Cherry Avenue apartment building after police discovered the body of a 26-year-old woman Tuesday afternoon. Christopher Frank Butler, 41, was charged with second-degree murder around 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. The victim was Deanne Genevieve Wheeler, 26, according to police.  Const. Jason...

Preliminary inquiry set for Lumby man accused of murder

VERNON – The 55-year-old man charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a Vernon teacher in Lumby this past summer will be back before the judge in the New Year for a preliminary hearing. Howard Krewson, who is also known as Howard Everett, is accused of killing Linda Ross, 51, at...