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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2021 | Volume 34 No. 2
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RECORD HAUL FOR CHRISTMAS CHEER
SD73 NAMES NEXT SUPERINTENDENT
AIR CANADA STOPS FLIGHTS TO YKA
KTW’s annual campaign brings in $93,000 for five local charities
Interim superintendent Terry Sullivan’s term will end in July
The airline blames lack of COVID-19 relief from government
A5
A11
A14
DETERMINING DAMAGES A TRIAL IS UNDERWAY TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH JESSIE SIMPSON’S ASSAILANT WILL PAY MICHAEL POTESTIO
STAFF REPORTER
michael@kamloopsthisweek.com
Kristopher Teichrieb is seen entering the Kamloops Law Courts on Oct. 23, 2018. He has since been found civilly liable for his attack on Jessie Simpson. KTW FILE
A trial is underway in B.C. Supreme Court to determine how much money a Kamloops man will pay for beating local teenager Jessie Simpson into a coma in 2016. Kristopher Teichrieb has been found civilly liable for monetary damages or costs stemming from the attack and its aftermath. The trial, which began on Tuesday, will determine compensation. Simpson’s lawyer, Kelsey O’Bray-Lazer, said the plaintiffs are seeking the upper limit of non-pecuniary damages, aggravated damages, punitive damages, loss of housekeeping capacity, loss of income accruing capacity both past and future and care costs. Teichrieb is representing himself in court but was not present Tuesday. He is currently in jail, having been sentenced in 2018 to seven years in prison, after pleading guilty to aggravated assault. O’Bray-Lazer told justice Dev
Dley that Teichrieb had been made aware of the proceedings and served notice of the trial. The civil action follows Simpson, then 18, celebrating high school graduation on June 19, 2016. He became separated from friends and wound up on Teichrieb’s property near the corner of Holt Street and Clifford Avenue in Brocklehurst. Teichrieb attacked Simpson with his fists and a metal baseball bat. According to witnesses, the bulk of the attack took place in the middle of the street after Simpson tried to run from Teichrieb. Simpson’s injuries were significant. He suffered serious brain injuries and will require 24-hour care for the rest of his life. His mom, Sue, along with friends of the family, continue to organize various fundraising activities. In the weeks leading up to the attack, Teichrieb had threatened vigilante action after calling police to report a number of incidents of theft and trespassing. Police warned him not to take matters into his own hands.
Testimony was heard on Tuesday from two witnesses: Simpson’s mother, Sue, and former RCMP officer Grant Bernier, who examined Simpson at the scene. Sue Simpson testified that she experienced much trauma and stress since the attack on her son. She said Jessie was in surgery for five hours after the attack and it was unclear if he would survive. She went to see him as soon as he was out of the operating room. “I didn’t recognize him,” Simpson said. “His face was swollen, his tongue was out of his mouth.” She testified being at her son’s bedside daily, often staying overnight at the hospital, commuting at times the lengthy trip to check on their home in Savona. She said her son was in a coma for 10 months and at one point doctors suggested taking him off life support. He’s had infections and various complications since the attack. See ASSAULT, A10
Electric vehicle charging station
40%OVER PRE SOL -LE D/ ASE D Bike parking & shower/ change room
10 years reduced property taxes
Underground parking for purchase or lease
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