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Penticton  

Princeton murder case to go to trial

A Princeton man accused of shooting two people and wounding a third will stand trial.

Judge Gregory Koturbash determined at the end of the five and a half day preliminary inquiry in Penticton for John Ike Koopmans, there was enough evidence for him to stand trial on the charges before the court.

Koopmans is charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, stemming from the incident that took place on a rural Princeton property on March 30, 2013.

Princeton residents Robert Keith Wharton, 44, and Rosemary, (Rose), Fox, 32, were found dead on the property on Old Hedley Road.

A second man, who was hospitalized with life threatening wounds, was also found at the scene. He has not been identified.

Koopmans, sporting a goatee and glasses, appeared in court throughout the lengthy inquiry. He sat quietly, at times bending his head to take notes.

On Feb. 24, lawyers will begin a trial setting process with the expectation of the trial being for four weeks in September.

 



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