A double murder trial is derailed before it even starts after a plea deal is made the killer, Nicholas Coopper. Cooper had been charged with first degree murder of Karen Smith and second degree murder of her two year old son Ayden. The plea bargain lets Coopper plead guilty to second degree murder and manslaughter respectively.
It was on December 17th, 2008 when the bodies of Karen Smith and her two year old son Ayden were discovered in their Rutland townhouse. Coopper was arrested at the townhouse, he was Smith’s live in boyfriend at the time.
Smith’s mother Marla put out the following statement today:
Marla Smith was relieved to hear that Nicholas Coopper entered a guilty plea in the slaying of her daughter Karen and grandson Ayden who were killed on December 17, 2008. This means Smith, who found her daughter’s body, will not have to go through a lengthy trial and testify.
In a brief statement issued today she said “It is my understanding that he pled out with manslaughter for my grandson Ayden, and second degree murder for my daughter Karen. I have a meeting with crown tomorrow at 10 am and I will know more at that time.”
She asks that the media respect her privacy at this time until she has more information.
Coopper will be back in B.C. Supreme court in July for sentencing.
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