Photo: Castanet Staff

Charges have been stayed against Sylvain Demers, previously charged with manslaughter in connection to a 2017 shooting in Penticton. 

Demers, 39, had been accused of killing 52-year-old Randall Toews in a daytime shooting incident at a local apartment complex in April 2017.

Witnesses at the time told Castanet they heard loud banging and yelling, “I know you're in here,” prior to a gunshot. Toews stumbled down the steps and died in the parking lot of the building.

Crown dropped the charges Monday, according to BC Prosecution Service communications counsel Dan McLaughlin. 

The prosecutor concluded the charge approval standard was no longer met.

The trial had been scheduled to proceed in March, and the defence lawyer had shared details that may have indicated an intent to argue self-defence.