Vernon News
95-year-old man charged with murder of roommate
By Charlotte Helston
Residents outside the dementia care unit Monday. Staff refused to speak to the media about the incident.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
August 20, 2013 - 11:20 AM
VERNON - A 95-year-old man has been remanded in custody on a murder charge after allegedly assaulting his roommate in an extended care unit at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
John Furman made his first court appearance Monday. Furman and his 85-year-old roommate were both residents of a ward providing care to people whose dementia is complicated by behavioural or psychiatric issues. RCMP say the assault took place around 11 p.m. Sunday night, but haven't released many details about the incident.
Interior Health says they can't provide a spokesperson for the incident at this time, and won't be releasing specific details "in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation."
RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the Vernon Serious Crimes unit is continuing their homicide investigation at the care facility, and is expected to be gathering evidence there most of Tuesday.
The name of the victim is being withheld at this time. An autopsy is expected tomorrow.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013