Victim’s family says double-murder trial like reliving nightmare

PENTICTON — The older sister of murder victim Robert Keith Wharton, 43, says she still misses her brother everyday. Wharton and his girlfriend, Rosemary Fox, were both shot and killed in their Princeton home two years ago.

READ MORE: Princeton double-murder trial hears how both victims shot 3 times

“My mom is never going to be the same. I don’t think she’s ever going to be able to get over it. As everybody knows, she found him and that’s the most devastating thing,” says sister Cheri Franklin.

Over the past eight weeks of the trial, the jury heard how Wharton’s welding business spiraled downwards after his father passed away. That’s when Wharton became more involved in drugs.

Several times during the trial, Wharton and Fox were both described as being addicted to cocaine and their home referred to as a “crack house.”

Franklin admits her brother had some struggles, but she remembers him as an amazing family man. Wharton has four children ages 8-21.

“He was goodhearted; he was fun; his door was open to anybody that needed help and he didn’t judge them.”

The man accused of the murders is John Ike Koopmans, 51.

“When I found out he was picked up for this horrific thing…I could not believe it. He was our friend. We cooked Christmas Dinner, he was part of our family,” says Franklin.

She recalls the first time she was in trial for the hearing, adding she almost fainted when she saw the accused.

Franklin says she hasn’t found closure yet and is hoping that the jury’s verdict will bring one.

But she fears the question of why someone committed such a “brutal murder” would still burn at the back of her mind.

A B.C. Supreme Court judge was expected to give the jury instructions Wednesday afternoon. This has now been moved to the following morning.