Brandon Wellington, 18, is charged with second degree murder in connection with the death of Jason Hardy.
Image Credit: File photo
September 09, 2015 - 1:11 PM
VERNON - A local teen charged with murder has been ordered not to have any contact with his co-accused — a 14-year-old boy — and two other young men from Vernon.
Brandon Joseph Clayton Wellington, 18, appeared in Vernon Provincial Court today, Sept. 9 on one count of second degree murder in the death of Jason Hardy, 42. Hardy’s body was found in the early morning hours of Aug. 26 in Polson Park.
The identity of the the 14-year-old is protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act. According to the RCMP, he remains in custody following his arrest Aug. 31. Both he and Wellington are from the Greater Vernon area.
Wellington’s appearance today, which he attended via video conference from custody, was brief and lawyers agreed to speak to it in another week. A bail hearing has not yet been set. Crown counsel Iain Currie used the short appearance to request a no contact order between Wellington and the accused youth, as well as with a man named Tal Kalum La Riviere, plus a third individual.
La Riviere appeared in court by video conference after Wellington on an assault causing bodily harm charge from Aug. 25, breach of undertaking on Aug. 26 and theft $5,000 or under from Aug. 26.
Crown gave no reason for the no contact order.
Police continue to investigate the case and RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says they would like to hear from anyone who has information regarding Hardy’s death.
“Specifically, we’re looking for anyone who might have been in the area of Polson Park that night,” Noseworthy says.
An autopsy has been performed on Hardy, but police are not releasing the cause of death.
You can contact the Vernon RCMP detachment at 250-545-7171 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
— This story was edited at 10 a.m. Sept. 16, 2015 to remove the name of one of the people listed on the no contact order.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015