Lawyers make closing arguments in Koopmans murder trial

PENTICTON — After eight weeks of hearing witness testimonies, defense and crown counsel asked the 12-member jury to carefully decide which pieces of evidence are reliable and which to dismiss. John Ike Koopmans, 51, is accused of murdering Robert Keith Wharton and Rosemary Fox, and attempting to kill Bradley Martin.

Lawyer Don Skogstad described the accused as “soft-spoken, peaceful, forgiving” and said his client had no reason to commit the murders.

Skogstad tried to poke holes in Martin’s testimony, calling him an unreliable witness.

Crown counsel Frank Dubenski said it is normal for such “minor discrepancies,” especially after suffering such a traumatic experience.

It is the crown’s case that Koopmans killed the victims as an act of revenge because they may have been involved in the break-and-enter. But defense pointed out that neither were charged with that crime.

But crown counsel painted a different picture for the jury, saying Koopmans armed himself with a handgun and ammunition with the intent to kill on the night of March 30, 2013.

“The question in this case is not who did this, but why did he do this? Only Koopmans can tell you, instead he’s chosen to tell you about a dog sneeze,” said Dubenski.

READ MORE: Crown said Koopmans had reason to kill friends

Dubenski said there is incriminating DNA evidence against Koopmans and there’s no doubt Koopmans murdered the two victims, describing this as “a product of an angry man who finally snapped.”

Both lawyers asked jurors not to speculate and to be certain of the decision they will soon be making, a decision that will determine Koopmans’ fate.

The B.C. Supreme Court judge is expected to give her instructions to the jury tomorrow before the jurors begin deliberations.