Penticton

The former RCMP officer accused of murdering his common law wife in Penticton last summer will remain behind bars until his trial

Photo: Kelly Hayes - Castanet File Photo

Keith Wiens will remain behind bars until his 2nd degree murder trial begins

Justice Peter Rogers determined that Keith Wiens should have his bail revoked and remain in custody Wednesday afternoon in B.C. Supreme Court.

A publication ban was established on all other evidence related to the case.

The news Wiens will not be returning to his Penticton home came as a relief to family members , who showed up in force in support of victim Lynn Kalmring, a Penticton nurse.

‘He committed this crime and he has to own up to it,” said Kalmring’s daughter, Brandy Cummings, who broke down in tears in a Penticton Court House hallway after the decision was made. “He’s behind bars until the trial and I think I can deal with that.”

Wiens, who retired from the RCMP detachment in Summerland in 2001 and then worked for a time as a Summerland bus driver, has  been behind bars since Wednesday, January 18, when he was arrested at the home he once shared with Kalmring for breach of recognizance.

Wiens was previously released on $50,000 bail in late August with various conditions after he was charged with the Aug. 16, 2011 shooting death of Kalmring.

The conditions included his brother living with him in his home in the Sandbridge gated community in Penticton, turning over his passport and staying away from 14 people, including Kalmring’s family.

Cummings believes the brother moved away in October.

Defense lawyer Don Skogstad and crown counsel  Colin Forsyth are expected to set a trial date for Wiens on Feb. 6 in Kelowna.

In an unrelated case, a 19- year- old arrested for breaching his bail conditions was released from custody on Monday.

Jamie Wolanski ,  who is accused of murdering a Penticton High School student at a grad bush party last June,  was arrested last Friday when police stopped a car he was a passenger in . He spent the weekend in jail before being released Monday.

“As far as we know the crown has decided there is not enough evidence to proceed with the charges, said Penticton RCMP Sgt. Rick Dellebuur. “We are continuing to follow up to see if there are ways to address any concerns the crown has concerning the incident.

Louise McAdam, grandmother of the 16-year-old victim Andrew McAdam, said she didn’t know what to think about the situation.

“It sickens me,” she said. “I’m not a court person, so I don’t know much about this.”

Wolanski is next expected to appear in court on Jan. 30.