Kristopher Teichrieb.
Image Credit: Contributed
January 08, 2018 - 3:23 PM
KAMLOOPS - The attempted murder trial for a Kamloops man accused of beating a teenager with a baseball bat in 2016 will take place in Kelowna.
Lawyers met in Kamloops Supreme Court today, Jan. 8, in front of Justice Joel Groves who granted a change of venue application filed by defence lawyer Jordan Watt.
Kristopher Teichrieb is charged with attempted murder and assault with a weapon in connection to an incident in June 2016.
Jessie Simpson, 18, was in the Brocklehurst neighbourhood when he was allegedly beaten with a baseball bat.
Teichrieb was arrested near his Clifford Avenue home immediately after the incident.
Watt argued that extensive pre-trial media coverage, an "inaccurate" media report in a local newspaper and Teichrieb's outstanding charges in the Lower Mainland all attributed to an application to change the trial venue from Kamloops to Kelowna.
Crown prosecutor Wendy Stephen said Crown was not opposed to the application, specifically because of the report from Kamloops This Week which had the headline "Accused in baseball-bat attack may plead guilty".
Lawyers said in court that counsel did not discuss a guilty plea, calling the report inaccurate.
Watt also mentioned news articles from unspecified outlets which could have appeared to be drawing sympathy toward Simpson. He said people commenting on these stories showed animosity toward Teichrieb.
"It is appropriate to grant the order sought," Groves said.
Teichrieb's next appearance will be by video in Kamloops next month. A trial date has not yet been set.
The charges against Teichrieb have not been proven in court.
For more iNFOnews.ca coverage on this case, go here.
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