Direct indictments were filed Monday at the Penticton Courthouse, meaning all four accused in the homicide of Taig Savage of Penticton more than three years ago will be going directly to trial and scheduled preliminary hearings have been cancelled.
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June 11, 2025 - 11:00 AM
All four charged in the 2021 homicide of Taig Savage, a young man from Penticton, will proceed directly to trial after Crown prosecutor Kurt Froehlich filed direct indictments at the Penticton courthouse on Monday.
This move eliminates the need for preliminary hearings.
Savage, 22, was found unresponsive near Penticton Secondary School on the morning of September 5, 2021, after reportedly being attacked in a group beating. He died shortly after being transported to hospital. Police say he had left home that morning wearing pajamas and a hoodie.
After a lengthy investigation, second-degree murder charges were laid in April 2024. The accused include three individuals who were under 18 at the time of the incident and are therefore protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The fourth is Isaac Hayse Jack, now 22, who was 18 at the time and is charged as an adult.
The three youths were initially charged with manslaughter, but their charges were upgraded to second-degree murder. The next court appearance for all four accused under the direct indictment is scheduled for July 14. Jack remains free under strict bail conditions.
Two of the three young offenders have recently breached their bail conditions. One male youth is currently in custody following his second breach in recent weeks.
He has been held for nearly three weeks and is scheduled for a bail hearing on June 17 in Kelowna. The Crown has indicated it will seek jail time after he previously pleaded guilty to an earlier breach.
His lawyer, Nelson Selemaj, is expected to request his release under 24-hour supervision, including electronic ankle monitoring.
However, the Crown will argue for continued detention until trial.
On May 16, the youth pleaded guilty to breaching a court-ordered curfew. The Crown is seeking a 30-day sentence, potentially longer in light of his second arrest. While Selemaj requested a pre-sentence report, Froehlich argued it was unnecessary, citing an existing Gladue Report.
Judge Greg Koturbash agreed to postpone sentencing to hear from the youth’s community service officer.
Meanwhile, the only female co-accused, now 19, recently pleaded guilty to assault related to a separate incident in November 2023.
Because she was a minor at the time of the homicide charge, her identity remains protected. She faces up to six months in jail, with sentencing set for June 19.
According to Froehlich, the woman was driving through a hotel parking lot in downtown Penticton when a stranger criticized her driving. After a brief exchange, she followed him, parked, approached on foot, and struck him in the face.
The unprovoked attack, caught on video, was later reported to police. The incident violated her bail conditions, leading to 13 days in custody before her release under new terms.
Froehlich called the assault “a serious aggravating factor,” emphasizing how rare it is for someone facing a murder charge to commit another violent offence while on bail.
He recommended three to six months in jail, followed by two years’ probation with strict conditions, including anger management and a no-contact order with the victim. Defence lawyer Cory Armour argued for a conditional sentence to be served in the community, highlighting the woman’s remorse and life changes, including moving in with her grandmother, securing full-time work, and accepting responsibility.
Armour submitted five letters of support and noted her grief over the recent loss of her stepfather and stress from her charges being upgraded.
"She is committed to keeping on a straight path,” Armour said, urging the court to avoid incarceration.
Justice Lynette Jung will deliver her sentencing decision on June 19. Until then, the woman remains under her grandmother’s supervision.
Jack and the three co-accused had initially opted for preliminary hearings, which are now cancelled due to the direct indictments.
The three co-accused will be tried together by judge and jury. Jack will face a separate trial, also by judge and jury. Savage’s mother, Tracey, was again present in court Monday. She has attended nearly every hearing.
— This article was originally published by the Penticton Herald
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