One of many photos posted to a memorial website for Lynn Kalmring.

Image Credit: justiceforlynn.webs.com

KELOWNA — It was already a busy night for Penticton RCMP when an alert sounded over the radio in the early hours of August 16, 2011. An alarm of shots fired drew multiple officers to a gated residence on 3333 South Main Street where they would arrest Keith Gregory Wiens and find the body of his wife lying on the bedroom floor of their home.

Three of those officers testified today at Kelowna Supreme Court on day two of Wiens' trial for the second degree murder of Lynn Kalmring.

Cpl. Donald Wrigglesworth had to climb the wrought-iron fence of the gated seniors' community to access the crime scene where Wiens had surrendered to police.

Wrigglesworth told Crown lawyer Colin Forsyth he entered the front door of the couple's home using rubber gloves. He was prepared to give emergency medical attention that could possibly save the victim's life.

“There was a smell in the air that I likened to gun powder,” Wrigglesworth told the court. When he moved inside the residence and turned the hallway he immediately saw  Kalmring's body lying on the floor of the master bedroom.

“I could see a female lying in a pool of blood,” he said. Wrigglesworth found no pulse when he carefully stepped around Kalmring's body to apply pressure on the left side of her neck.

“There was a lot of blood on the floor,” he said. “I was conscious of where I stepped.”

When asked to describe the scene to the jury, Wrigglesworth said he saw a knife in the victim's hand.

“It was pointed in a downward motion,” he said.

He also said a handgun and holster was lying on the couple's king-sized bed and that he observed a small dog peaking out from under the bed. Another officer was called in to help coax the dog out with a baton and get it into a kennel, so it wouldn't disturb evidence for the forensic investigation.

Wrigglesworth also told the jury there were a number of items on the island of the kitchen.

“There was money, a wedding ring and a bottle of vodka,” he said.

By the time Wrigglesworth had taped off the crime scene, Const. Cody Glasper had Wiens on the ground and in handcuffs.

Glasper testified in court today and described Wiens as being "very calm, very cooperative" upon his arrest. Not wearing a shirt, shoes or socks Wiens was escorted to the police car.

“I noticed there was a smell of alcohol on his person,” Glasper told the court. 

Crown asked if Wiens appeared at all injured or wounded, but Glasper said the only thing detected was a small bloodstain on his underwear, taken as evidence at the Penticton RCMP detachment.

During cross-examination by defence lawyer Ian McKay, Glasper was asked why Wiens had not been permitted to telephone a lawyer himself.

“You never actually let him use the phone at all did you?” McKay asked.

Glasper confirmed he made multiple calls to lawyers on Wiens behalf, and that it was not police protocol to let a suspect call. He said the call practice ensures police safety and “that they are actually calling a lawyer.”

Glasper stated he did not treat Wiens differently than any other suspect.

Further police witnesses and forensic investigators will be called to the stand in the jury trial. It will reconvene next Monday.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Julie Whittet at jwhittet@infotelnews.ca or call (250)718-0428.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013