Advertisement

Man charged in Penticton, B.C., mass shooting to plead guilty: defence

Click to play video: 'The Man accused in fatally shooting four Penticton seniors in April 2019 is expected to plead guilty to charges against him'
The Man accused in fatally shooting four Penticton seniors in April 2019 is expected to plead guilty to charges against him
The Man accused in fatally shooting four Penticton seniors in April 2019 is expected to plead guilty to charges against him – Oct 5, 2020

A lawyer for the man accused of perpetrating a mass shooting in Penticton announced his client intends to enter guilty pleas to four counts Monday.

John Brittain, 68, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder after a quadruple homicide in Penticton on April 15, 2019.

The victims — Rudi Winter, Barry and Susan Wonch, and Darlene Knippelberg — were all neighbours of the accused’s ex-wife.

Click to play video: '4 dead after targeted shooting spree in Penticton'
4 dead after targeted shooting spree in Penticton
Story continues below advertisement

Police confirmed Brittain knew all of the victims but have not said what the motive for the shootings might have been.

Click to play video: '‘The tenant everybody would want’: landlord of Penticton shooting suspect'
‘The tenant everybody would want’: landlord of Penticton shooting suspect

Defence counsel told the court his client is intending to plead guilty on what was supposed to be the first day of Brittain’s four-week trial.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

Brittain is expected to formally enter the guilty pleas when he appears in court on Oct. 14.

— with files from Shelby Thom and Jules Knox

Sponsored content

AdChoices