Heroic rescue efforts cannot save dog page 3
SPOTLIGHT
$1.10 Includes TAX
The Similkameen
Volume 65 Issue 11
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Murder victim’s mom testifies Dale Boyd Black Press
The mother of one of the victims of a 2013 shooting in Princeton gave emotional testimony at the Penticton Court House. Carol Wharton, mother of Robert Keith Wharton, 43, testified to a jury in relation to the charges of first degree murder and attempted murder placed against John Ike Koopmans. Carol spoke clearly and calmly at the stand during questioning, but became emotional when recounting the events that occurred on the evening of March 30, 2013. She lived in a fifth-wheel camper on the property where the shooting occurred that was shared by her son (who was went by the name Keith), Rosemary Fox and Bradley Martin at 331 Old Hedley Rd. in Princeton. Keith and Fox were shot and killed on March 30, 2013, and Martin was shot through the chest and survived.
Carol told the court that she noticed nothing unusual on the property that night when she was awake in bed, until she heard two loud bangs. “I didn’t relate them to gunshots,” she said. “But I heard two loud bangs and it startled me enough to see what was going on.” When questioned about the noises, Carol said the two loud bangs came one right after the other. She walked out of her fifth-wheel and went to investigate the modular home that Fox and her son occupied. She discovered two in the bedroom. “I touched Rose. I was sure she was dead. My son, I was sure he was still breathing. I heard a gurgling sound from his throat,” she said. Carol immediately left the residence with the intention to call 911, but then remembered she and her son were sharing a phone so she went back into the residence to retrieve it from cont. page 15
Carol Wharton (left), mother of murder victim Robert Keith Wharton (right), testified she found her son and his girlfriend Rosemary Fox in their bedroom, after she heard gunshots.
Police await autopsy results in infant death probe Andrea DeMeer Spotlight Staff
A newborn infant died Thursday at Princeton General Hospital, and RCMP and the coroner’s office are investigating. An autopsy on the body of a 13-day-old male took place Monday morning. RCMP detachment commander Barry Kennedy said it will be several days before toxicology reports – which may be relevant to the investigation – are available. “It’s something that came up and the coroner is looking at all of this…The autopsy [results] can’t come quick enough.” Kennedy said police are not limiting the investigation and also cannot rule out Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, positional asphyxi-
ation or a undiagnosed medical condition as causes of death. The baby – who was born in Edmonton on February 27 – was rushed to the hospital Thursday at about 4:30 p.m. by ambulance. “The baby arrived in arrest, which means they had to perform life saving techniques,” said Kennedy. The medical team worked on the infant for approximately 30 minutes before declaring him dead. The baby was accompanied to the hospital by his mother and grandmother who live in Princeton, said Kennedy. The mother, a woman in her early 30s, has four other children, although it is believed they are not in their mother’s care.
Weather Watch Wednesday
High10/Low1
Thursday
High 11/ Low -1
Friday
High13/Low2
Saturday
High9/Low4
Sunday
High13/Low3
A 13-day-old infant boy was rushed to Princeton General Hospital at about 4:30 Thursday where he was declared dead approximately 30 minutes later.
RIDE IN COMFORT! See in store for selection!
309 Culbertson Way
250-295-0101