Ex-girlfriend testifies in Princeton double-murder trial

PENTICTON — A jury in a double-murder trial heard some emotional testimony Tuesday. The former girlfriend of the accused killer took the stand, expressing the devastation and shock she was in when John Ike Koopmans became the prime suspect in the crime.

When Elaine Hoiland took the stand,  she didn’t acknowledge or make eye contact with Koopmans. However, she told the court they have been communicating almost every day since his arrest.

Koopmans is accused of shooting and killing Robert Keith Wharton and Rosemary Fox in a Princeton home two years ago. Bradley Martin was also shot; he was the only one who survived.

Hoiland testified a couple of hours before the triple-shooting, she and Koopmans got into a disagreement over cigarettes he owed her.

She said Koopmans stormed out of the house, but before leaving he told her, “I can’t do this anymore; you’re such a b*tch; watch my dogs.” When Crown Counsel asked if it was normal for Koopmans to use such language with her, she said it was whenever he would drink.

Hoiland described him as “pretty wasted” that night, explaining that over a 30-hour period before the murders, Koopmans consumed one mickey of whiskey and nearly three 26-ounce bottles of vodka.

Earlier in the trial, lone-shooting survivor Martin told the court he heard Koopmans arguing with Wharton on the night of the fatal shooting.

The fight was about a break-in at Koopmans’ home, where his entire gun collection was stolen.

Hoiland testified Koopmans was “heartbroken” to learn that Wharton was allegedly involved in the break-in. Wharton allegedly gave Koopmans’ key away to an acquaintance.  Koopmans apparently believed Wharton was coerced into doing it.

RCMP raided Hoiland’s home after Koopmans was arrested. Police found ammunition and a gun holster there. She told the jury she didn’t know how they got there.

Koopmans is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.