Murder

Police need help solving five-year-old murder

KELOWNA – Five years after Kelowna resident Christopher Daniel Hetu died from multiple gunshots at a park in Kelowna, police are still looking for clues about what happened. Hetu, an unemployed construction worker who was 20 at the time of his death, was found in Millbridge Park suffering from three to five gunshot wounds in...

Matthew Foerster to appeal first degree murder conviction

ARMSTRONG - The man convicted of brutally killing an Armstrong teen is appealing his first degree murder verdict. A jury found Matthew Foerster, 28, guilty of murdering Taylor Van Diest, 18, in April of this year. The verdict carries an automatic life sentence, with no eligibility for parole for 25 years. But a notice of...

House party killer appeal shot down

KELOWNA - A 29-year-old Kelowna man convicted of shooting and killing a high school student at a house party in 2007 will not be granted appeal, according to a hearing summary released Thursday. Trevor Shannon, who was 22 at the time, was sentenced to life in prison in 2012. He maintains he was trying to...

Lumby murder victim touched many lives through teaching

VERNON - A North Okanagan teacher allegedly murdered by her boyfriend will be remembered for her contagious smile, kindness and compassion. Linda Ross, a teacher in school district 22’s Alternate Learning Program, was found dead at the Trinity Valley Road home she shared with her partner, Howard Everett, who now faces a second degree murder...

Lumby shooter charged with murder

LUMBY – Murder charges have been laid against the man suspected of shooting a Vernon teacher to death before turning the gun on himself in a rural part of Lumby last week. Howard Everett of Lumby is still in hospital after the body of a 51-year-old woman was found at a home in the 300...

Charges dropped for murderer Keith Wiens

PENTICTON - Crown Counsel dropped charges last week against an ex-RCMP officer who was found guilty of murdering his common-law wife in 2011. Keith G. Wiens, who is facing a life sentence in federal prison, was charged with breaching his restrictions. Crown prosecutor John Swanson, who was assigned the case, said he was not told...

Arrests made in three year old drive-by murder case

KELOWNA – A pair of arrests have been made in a drive-by shooting that left a Shuswap man dead in 2011. Jeremy Wayne Davis, 24, of Williams Lake and Jordan Larry Barnes, 27, of Mission, have both been charged with second degree murder for the killing of Nicholas Larsen, 24, who was shot while driving...

Community asked to lend a hand for Taylor Van Diest trail

ARMSTRONG - Murdered Armstrong teen Taylor Van Diest’s family is looking to the community to help keep her memory alive. Taylor’s mother Marie pleaded with the City of Armstrong for assistance weeding and watering along the Taylor Jade Van Diest Memorial Trail, which has become overrun with weeds, but the city will only agree to...

Murderer scheduled to make official complaint against Crown

PENTICTON — An ex-RCMP officer and convicted murderer wants a Crown prosecutor removed from his case. Appearing in Penticton Provincial court Tuesday, Keith G. Wiens said he will be filing an application to have prosecutor John Swanson removed from the case, citing a conflict of interest.' Swanson didn't prosecute the murder trial; he's prosecuting Wiens...

Police remain coy on details of Williams Lake murder

WILLIAMS LAKE – Police are not confirming or denying if suspects have been identified in the murder of a Williams Lake man despite suspicion of vengeance in the community. Corey Huu Le, 22, was murdered last month in a targeted event. When police followed up on a residential complaint, they found Le dead in his...

UPDATE: Neil Snelson granted bail

"I’M WORRIED THAT HE MIGHT REOFFEND AGAIN” KAMLOOPS — A Kelowna man awaiting a manslaughter re-trial in the death of a Kelowna teen in 1993 has been granted bail provided he comes up with $75,000 surety. Neil George Snelson, 47, was once tried and convicted of the manslaughter of 19-year-old college student Jennifer Cusworth. He...

Second arrest in gangland murder

KAMLOOPS – A second man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Archie LePretre, 23, over three years ago. LePretre, of Vancouver, was in Kamloops visiting a cousin when they were attacked at the Stuart Wood Elementary School basketball court on March 22, 2011. Taken to hospital with stab wounds, the he was...

Trial for accused in death of teen to begin this fall

KAMLOOPS – A man charged with murdering his 16-year-old girlfriend will continue the beginning stages of his trial this fall. Damien Lawrence Taylor, born 1991, is facing second degree murder charges in the death of C.J. Fowler. RCMP told media Fowler and Taylor were dating. Fowler was from Terrace and would regularly visit Kamloops to...