Victim will testify from jail

Photo: RCMP

Afshin Ighani

The victim in an alleged prison stabbing will be able to testify against his attacker via video link at a preliminary hearing later this month.

Afshin Ighani, 47, is facing four counts of assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm in relation to an incident at the Okanagan Correctional Centre on Sept. 9, 2017.

Ighani allegedly attacked two protective-custody inmates with a sharp object after a guard accidentally left a gate open.

Judge Gregory Koturbash accepted an application from the Crown Tuesday to allow David McHale, 70, to testify from OCC due to health concerns related to being transferred to Penticton.

Koturbash has previously slapped down suggestions that the trial be moved to Kelowna due to logistical challenges around having the accused and two alleged victims all in custody in the same courthouse.

“I think it's critical that our courthouse makes the changes to adapt to these types of cases. Penticton isn’t getting any smaller, crime unfortunately isn’t getting any less serious,” he reiterated Tuesday.

He said he saw no disadvantage to having testimony given by video. 

The other alleged victim in the stabbing, Peter Beckett, will testify in person. He is currently serving a life sentence for killing his wife in Kelowna in 2010.

McHale is behind bars for sexual offences involving children and is now suing the prison over the attack. 

During the incident, Ighani was in jail facing charges related to a manhunt, hostage taking and police chase in Princeton last year. Attempted murder charges against him for a shooting last year in Oliver were dropped after victim died months later of a drug overdose. 

The preliminary hearing on the matter is set for April 24 and 25.