Penticton

An arrest has been made in connection with the death of a Penticton man.

RCMP announced the arrest of Penticton resident Michael Richard Beauchamp in connection with the April 2009 death of Terrence Wooley.

The announcement was made Tuesday morning during a press conference attended by Wooley's mother, Elizabeth Hawlryliuk.

Corporal Dan Moskaluk says Wooley, 53, was found unconscious near the back door of Slack Alice's Bar on Front Street just before 12:30 a.m. April 25.

“He was transferred to Kelowna General Hospital in critical condition with severe head injuries. Wooley did not regain consciousness and remained in a coma until May 25, 2009, dying as a result of his sustained injuries while still in care at the Andy Moog Hospice in Penticton,” says Moskaluk.

He says 40-year-old Beauchamp was arrested without incident Friday, March 5 at a Penticton business and a charge of second degree murder under section 235(1)ccc has been laid against him.

“The Penticton GIS investigators have been working on this investigation since April 25, 2009 and were successful in compiling sufficient evidence over the course of the last 11 months in order to arrest and charge Beauchamp.”

Moskaluk says the attack on Wooley took place after he was asked to leave the bar.

“It appears to have been a random assault as the two men were not known to each other. Beauchamp was also at Slack Alice's that night. Beauchamp was apparently new to Penticton and was not known to local RCMP, but we believe he did have a criminal record at that point.”

He says it is with solace to Mr Wooley’s family, that they have successfully advanced the investigation to the point of charges being laid.

“In incidents of crimes against persons, in particular homicides, the loss of a loved one under criminal circumstances is a terrible ordeal for families to endure and live with. This painful burden, endured by all victim families of violent crimes, is at the heart of the drive behind all investigators tasked with bringing those responsible for such crimes to justice.”