Shooting suspect in Penticton court

Photo: Contributed

John Ike Koopman appeared in Penticton court today to face charges in the shooting deaths of a Princeton man and woman, and the wounding of a third.

The man accused in the shooting deaths of a Princeton man and woman and the wounding of another, appeared by video in a Penticton court room on Wednesday.

John Ike Koopmans, 49, was in court for the discussion of particulars related to the case.

His lawyer Don Skogstad said, however, that he has only just received the file on the case and needs time to read it.
The matter was adjourned to June 19.

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

On that night, Rosemary, (Rose), Fox, 32, and Robert Keith Wharton, 44, both of Princeton, were found dead on a property on Old Hedley Road.

A second man, who received life threatening wounds and was hospitalized, was also found at the scene. He was not identified.
Koopmans, wearing glasses and a beard, appeared calm during the proceedings and was agreeable to his lawyer needing time to read the file.