Wednesday October 23, 2013 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Murder case set for trial
By Tracy Hughes OBSeRVeR STAFF
A judge has ruled that the two people charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of 22-year-old Tyler Myers will proceed to trial. In november 2008, Myers was found dead on a wooded trail adjacent to Bastion elementary. Four years later, a man and woman were arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Because the pair was under 18 years old at the time of the killing, their names can’t be published. Police reports indicated the killing was not random and that Myers knew his accused killers. After the three-day hearing, the details of which can not be printed under a routine publication ban on preliminary hearings, Justice Wilfred Klinger ruled there was enough evidence for the firstdegree murder trial to proceed. A preliminary hearing is held to determine if there is enough evidence to have the case proceed to a full trial. Both accused are being tried together, however each has separate legal counsel. Tyler Myers The case has now Murder been set over until dec. victiM 18, at which time a trial date will be determined. “We have not discussed yet how long a trial would be, but we are looking at a fairly lengthy procedure,” says crown counsel Bill Hilderman. It is expected the trial will not take place in Salmon Arm, but would likely be moved to Kamloops. This will also be a matter for discussion at the upcoming appearance. A third suspect has also been charged in connection with the case. Justin James doussept, 22, is accused of obstructing justice and being an accessory after the fact to murder. He is facing charges as an adult, therefore his name can be published. His case is being dealt with separately from the other two. His next court date is set for nov. 19.
MARTHA WICKETT/OBSeRVeR
Back in business: Kathy and Gary Wikkerink, owners of Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm, are pleased to have re-opened their Salmon Arm outlet for cheese sales.
Gort’s restarts production E. coli: Health organizations lift prohibition on cheese sales. By Martha Wickett OBSeRVeR STAFF
In the end, it came down to two wheels of cheese. On Friday, Oct. 18, five weeks to the day that they learned their cheese was suspected in an e. coli outbreak, the Wikkerink family received good news. Officials from both the canadian Food Inspection Agency (cFIA) and the Bc centre for disease control (Bccdc) came to Gort’s Gouda cheese Farm in Salmon Arm Friday morning to tell the owners that the prohibition had been lifted – the Wikkerinks could once again sell their cheese. The owners were told “basically that no e. coli was found on the premises and that it was only found in two wheels of red pepper and black pepper (cheese),” a relieved Gary Wikkerink told the
This week Rick Mercer visited the Shuswap to try a new invention. See A8 for all the details. Follow Brett Kissel on Twitter for a chance to win a VIP package. See A19 for more.
Observer. He said some of the cheese found to be tainted had been cut up and repackaged into 250-gram weights and then returned. “They took between two- and threehundred samples, and almost all of them came back negative, except for the two wheels,” he said of the cFIA investigation. The lifting of the prohibition on sales comes with a restriction. Any cheese made after Sept. 14 must be tested before it leaves the premises. despite the infamy the farm gained after the cheese recalls, he thinks the notifications were necessary. “Although only two wheels were found to be contaminated, it’s better safe than sorry.” Both Gary and his spouse Kathy say a huge weight has now been lifted off
their shoulders. “It was a very humbling experience, the whole thing,” remarked Kathy, explaining that it’s “because you feel how vulnerable you are. When you’re working in the food industry, working with real food, you’re very vulnerable.” She said the community has been highly supportive, both with encouraging words and with stores placing orders again. “It makes us more passionate about what we’re doing, and also the due diligence to make it effective.” lynn Willcott with Bccdc said no major problems were discovered at the farm. “We found some minor deficiencies throughout the process, no major See Testing on page A2
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Time Out................... A10 Sports................A14-A18 Arts & Events ... A19-A22 Vol. 106, No. 43, 40 pages