Firearms trial opens

Photo: Colin Dacre

The trial for a Penticton man facing firearms charges opened Friday in BC Supreme Court.

Cody Wilson is charged with four weapons offences in relation to an incident in the Penticton Denny’s parking lot on Oct. 7, 2016.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Vandersluys told the 11-person jury he intends to prove Wilson was unlawfully in possession of a pair of loaded handguns that afternoon.

Police were called to the parking lot by a distraight women inside the bathroom of the restaurant telling them her boyfriend, Cody Wilson, was in his truck with two handguns.

“While en route to the Denny’s, the officers received a further dispatch, indicating that a second person had called to suggest that the same suspect… had passed the caller and pointed a gun at them,” Vandersluys said.

The Crown alleges Wilson had a loaded, prohibited revolver in his front pocket, and another loaded handgun registered to him under the front passenger seat.

Wilson, who wore a silver chain on top of his buttoned-up plaid shirt, was having trouble keeping himself awake throughout the morning.

He was visibly dozing off while the charges were being read out to him, and while the Crown delivered opening statements. The drowsiness — which was noted by the judge and sheriff — was attributed by defence lawyer Michael Patterson to the flu.

Vandersluys said he plans on calling just two witnesses; both attending RCMP officers. Evidence for the trial is expected to wrap by Wednesday.