NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN
11 page
www.pentictonwesternnews.com
3
news
Bridge construction raises bar on protecting environment
VOL. 49 ISSUE 17
4
news
Penticton Vees begin their RBC Cup quest on Tuesday
FRIDAY, February 27, 2015
RCMP walk the downtown beat to deter crimes
9
entertainment Wil talks about the life of an opening act
MURDER TRIAL STARTS Dale Boyd
Both victims were shot three times, with Wharton suffering three wounds to the head while Fox was shot in the head, chest and right ankle according to the agreed statement of facts. The statement of facts also noted a toxicology report that showed both victims had ingested marijuana and cocaine, though it was not possible to determine whether or not they were intoxicated at the time. Two weapons were discovered and entered as evidence in the trial. A .357 Ruger was discovered in the Similkameen River near the Old Hedley Road property by a police dive team seven months after the shooting, and a .38 handgun was discovered by a camper and reported to police a year and a half after the shootings. Dubenski announced 26 witnesses will take the stand during the trial that began on Wednesday and is estimated to last three weeks minimum. During a brief opening statement, defence council Don Skogstad noted to the jury that an opening statement from the defence was unusual, but asked them to pay particularly close attention to two witnesses, Martin and as well as a young civilian witness expected to take the stand next week. Skogstad briefly approached an unusual line of questioning during the crossexamination of the first trial witness Cst. Tim Russell, who was the crime scene management officer for the case. Sk-
NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN
Western News Staff
JOHN IKE KOOPMANS, 51, is led from the Penticton courthouse by sheriffs Feb. 23 during a voire dire hearing without the jury to determine allowable evidence. Koopmans has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with a double homicide in March 2013 near Princeton.
Mark Brett/Penticton Western News
A survivor of an alleged double murder that occurred in Princeton is expected to testify next week at the Penticton Court House. Bradley Martin was shot in the chest on a property just outside of Princeton on Old Hedley Road where Rosemary Fox, 32, and Robert Keith Wharton, 43, were shot and killed on March 30, 2013. John Ike Koopmans, 51, is charged with two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder and was arrested after police located him in a camper on the Old Hedley Road property on March 31, 2013. Crown counsel Frank Dubenski told the jury that he expects Martin to testify that Koopmans arrived at a residence Martin shared with Wharton and Fox and entered into an argument with Fox and Wharton. When Martin went to intervene, he was shot in the upper-right chest. Despite the wound, Martin left the property and survived as the result of open-chest surgery. “I expect Mr. Martin to tell you he never saw his friends alive again,” Dubenski told the court. Dubenski told the jury the argument may have been related to a break and enter that allegedly occurred on Koopmans’ property prior to the shooting. Dubenski said Koopmans believed Wharton to be responsible for the break and enter.
ogstad queried whether or not Russell had come across an unusual object while searching through Martin’s belongings in his residence. “I know this is a funny question, but trust me, I know why I’m asking. Did you come across a tinfoil hat?” Skogstad said. “No,” Russell said. The relevance of the tinfoil hat was not mentioned as the trial was adjourned until March 2. During the cross-examination Skogstad also questioned a missing bullet from the crime scene. Four slugs were recovered from the scene by RCMP. Skogstad pointed out that according to the injuries sustained by Fox, Wharton and Martin, there should be seven bullets fired. Russell told court that it was determined that the bullet that struck Fox’s ankle had passed through another object before it struck Fox. He believed that one of the bullets that struck Wharton passed through and hit Fox as well, though Russell noted he was not a ballistics expert, and that was only his belief. “There’s still one bullet missing,” Skogstad said. Russell told court he exhausted his “physical and mental energy” trying to find the missing bullet. “I looked and looked and looked and could not find that last bullet,” Russell said. Koopmans took notes throughout the trial and showed no emotion during the proceedings.
Limited time sale Beltone super savings for you
$ u p e t v o a 80000 S ea.
CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT:
Summerland Oliver Place Mall Osoyoos TOLL FREE Penticton 1-800-793-1787 250-492-5255 250-494-8778 250-498-4544 250-495-6535