PENTICTON – Sentencing submissions started Friday for a Princeton man convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
John Ike Koopmans used a handgun in March 2013 to kill Robert Wharton and Rosemary Fox as the couple lay in bed in Wharton’s home.
Bradley Martin was shot once but survived the chest wound.
Get daily National news
Martin identified Koopmans in court as the shooter.
The prosecutor believes the murders were retaliation for a break-in at Koopman’s house where firearms and other valuables were stolen and where the deceased couple may have been involved.
Frank Dubenski told the jury: “These were not excited, accidental shots. These were deliberate.”
Koopmans will be given the mandatory life prison sentence for murder with the judge having to decide on the period of parole ineligibility.
Dubenski is seeking consecutive sentences of 15 years for each murder before Koopmans can apply for parole.
The defence lawyer suggests 17.5 years in total is more appropriate.
The judge will deliver her sentence at a later date.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.