Truck thieves target Princeton pick-ups
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SPOTLIGHT
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The Similkameen
Volume 65 Issue 13
Wednesday, April 1, 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.
Car rams phone booth, caller
Accused killer described as “teddy bear” Dale Boyd Black Press
Ole Juul
According to police the victim in the crash attempted to jump out of the way at the last minute but was still struck by the oncoming car. Andrea DeMeer with the phone booth. The driver then took aim at Spotlight Staff the phone booth and ‘gunned’ the car toward the
A man was sent to hospital Sunday after the phone booth he was using in downtown Coalmont was struck and destroyed by an oncoming vehicle. The victim, who was treated at Princeton Hospital and released, has been identified by witnesses as Warren Spence of Coalmont. RCMP detachment commander Barry Kennedy described the incident, which occurred about noon, was “very bizarre.” Kennedy said police believe the crash was not accidental. “According to witnesses, the driver of the vehicle recognized the male in the phone booth, and then turned his vehicle around in order to line his car up
phone booth, driving right through it and striking the male standing inside,” said an RCMP press release. “For the guy on the other end of that phone it must have been a heck of a call,” said Kennedy, in a follow up interview with The Spotlight. Kennedy added “there is a lot of rumor about the motive…but I have not been able to confirm it.” The driver of the car was also injured and remains in hospital, said Kennedy. Charges are pending against a man, also from Coalmont. “We are prepared to lay charges,” said Kennedy. “We’re ready to go and waiting for Crown to approve them and which ones they are going to approve.”
Weather Watch Wednesday
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High 10/ Low -2
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Sunday
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The accused has sat quietly taking notes throughout the trial, now he is taking the stand. John Ike Koopmans, who is charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in relation to the 2013 deaths of Keith Wharton and Rosemary Fox, took the stand on Thursday in Penticton Supreme Court. “Did you commit the crimes you are accused of?” Defence counsel Don Skogstad asked. “No I did not,” Koopmans replied. “Do you have a criminal record,” Skogstad asked. “No,” Koopmans replied. During the opening statement from the defence Skogstad noted to the jury that “if an accused chooses not to testify nobody can make them.” The defence said they will not be re-hashing the testimony from the many Crown witnesses who have taken the stand in the trial that has lasted multiple months. Skogstad said there have been “a lot of frailties in this case already,” reminding the jury that in Canada there is a presumption of innocence, and that Koopmans’ guilt has to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Skogstad also reminded the jury that Koopmans will be subject to any questions the Crown has for him. Koopmans, who has worked as a welder, prospector and commercial fishermen in the past, said he and Keith Wharton had become “good
Spring
John Ike Koopmans began testimony in his own defense last week. He said he lent money to one of the victims, Keith Wharton, to buy drugs.
friends” and would work on welding projects together after the death of Wharton’s father. He called Wharton a “good mechanic” but said that he had “lost interest” in the welding work and became more interested in drugs in the months prior to the incident. He admitted to lending Wharton money to buy crack, saying that he would lend Koopmans money for liquor if he needed it. Skogstad asked Koopmans to try on the jacket that he confirmed he was wearing on the night of the incident, March 30, 2013. The same jacket that expert analysts confirmed they found blood on. contineud page 3
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