233159

Penticton  

Witness: I'm not the killer

The key witness in the John Ike Koopmans trial vehemently denied any involvement in the death of his two friends, who were found deceased March 30, 2013.

Bradley Martin made the statement in response to cross examination by defence lawyer Don Skogstad in Penticton court, Thursday.

Koopmans is charged with two counts of murder and one of attempted murder, stemming from the incident that took place on a rural Princeton property.

Residents Robert Keith Wharton, 43, and Rosemary Fox, 32, were found dead on the property. Martin, who was hospitalized with life-threatening wounds, was found at the scene.

The question regarding Martin's involvement came late in the day, Thursday, following hours of cross examination. Skogstad suggested Martin got himself into drug debt and that he was responsible for the gunman who came in to take care of Wharton and Fox's debt.

Martin responded by saying he wasn't a drug dealer and that the suggestions were convoluted.

"I'm not the killer, and I don't know the killer," he said. "You are making things into facts that aren't facts."

Martin said he did not see who shot Wharton and Fox, but "with all my heart and soul, there is only one person I saw with a gun – that man right there, John Koopmans."

Earlier in the cross examination, Skogstad asked how many phones Martin had and about calls made to his phone asking for money.

Martin's response was maybe Wharton had a business deal going. To which Skogstad replied: "do you mean drug deals?"

Skogstad questioned Martin about his criminal record, involving the transportation of drugs. He admitted being charged five years ago. The defence lawyer also talked about other instances of drug use and brushes with the law at the Lower Mainland.

Martin became visibly upset when Skogstad suggested there had been a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.

He said he has been seeing a doctor of psychology, who could clarify he doesn't have any mental issues. His main issues have been the trauma of getting shot and losing his job, house and friends, he stated.

During Crown questioning earlier in the day, Martin showed the jury the entrance wound on the front of his body and the exit wound on the back. A large tattoo now covers his back, which he said he got for closure.



More Penticton News