Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
(file photo/Vernon Matters Staff)
By Liam Verster
Second Degree Murder

Lumby murder trial to happen next May

Jul 22, 2025 | 11:17 AM

Dates for a Lumby murder trial have been set.

The B.C. Prosecution Service told Vernon Matters Vitali Stefanski appeared in Vernon law courts Monday, July 21, during which dates for jury selection and trial were set for May 25, 2026.

The prosecution service said the jury selection and trial could take approximately five weeks to complete.

The man faces a charge of second degree murder in the death of his ex-wife, Tatjana Stefanski.

Tatjana was reported missing from her home in Lumby in April of 2024, and her body was discovered in a rural area the following day.

Council grants
Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank
13h ago
Possible firearm involved
One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream
Dec 13, 2025
Fatal Collision, Highway Closed
One person dead in crash near Revelstoke
Dec 13, 2025

Vitali was also located in a nearby area and arrested, then later charged in the death.

The accused’s next appearances in court will be for a case management conference on August 7, 2025, and then for a pre-trial conference on April 13, 2026.

by Liam Verster
View Comments

Other Matters

Council grants
Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank
The City of Vernon has over $50,000 to give to local non-profits and organizations.A city staff report stated that there were five applicants who should be awarded funds through the October intake of the Council Discretionary Grant program. One of those agencies is receiving nearly half the available funds.The report r...
13h ago
Read More
major response
Park arrest prompts major emergency response in West K
West Kelowna RCMP are sharing information after a major operation by the Emergency Response Team on Thursday. The drug section, with support from various other units made an initial arrest at City Park in Kelowna. That prompted them to execute a search warrant at a residence on Scott Crescent in West Kelowna and that i...
Dec 13, 2025
Read More
Possible firearm involved
One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream
One person was arrested but later released in connection to what police say was suspicious activity in Coldstream.Vernon North Okanagan RCMP received a report of a suspicious individual outside a residence on Tamarack Drive shortly after midnight Thursday, Dec. 11.It was believed the person could potentially be in poss...
Dec 13, 2025
Read More
Fatal Collision, Highway Closed
One person dead in crash near Revelstoke
A fatal crash occurred on Highway 1 east of Revelstoke Friday morning.RCMP responded to a report of two semis that collided head-on on the highway at approximately 9:20 a.m., Dec. 12.First responders attended and one of the drivers was declared deceased at the scene, while the other was taken to hospital in critical co...
Dec 13, 2025
Read More
Salaries
Vernon Council to discuss lesser pay increases
Vernon's Mayor and Councillors will have their remuneration going up next year, but not by as much as previously expected.At the request of Councillor Kari Gares, city staff have developed a plan to maintain the remuneration rates at the 2025 level for 2026.This would see the mayor's remuneration increase by $4,638 to ...
Dec 12, 2025
Read More
Police Watchdog Investigation
Nakusp RCMP member not facing charges relating to fatal crash
Charges are not being pursued against an officer involved in a fatal crash in Nakusp.The B.C. Prosecution Service (BCPS) says an investigation was launched into an incident that occurred on November 25, 2024, when a member of the Nakusp RCMP spotted an alleged stolen vehicle.The member followed the vehicle and activate...
Dec 12, 2025
Read More
Taekwon-Do Tournament
Sundance Martial Arts finishes first overall at Western Canadian Championships
The local martial arts school proved its mettle at a major tournament.Sundance Martial Arts placed first overall at the 2025 Western Canadian ITF Taekwon-Do Championships.The Vernon-based dojo secured the title after its athletes took home 20 gold, 17 silver, and 32 bronze medals across nearly all age categories."...
Dec 12, 2025
Read More
Economic Trouble
Central Okanagan tops Canada in apartment vacancy rates
Kelowna and the surrounding Central Okanagan region are now facing the highest apartment vacancy rate of any major city in Canada.That is according to the latest data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.The area-which includes Peachland, West Kelowna, Kelowna, and Lake Country-saw its rental vacancy climb ...
Dec 12, 2025
Read More
Off-Season Freestyle Training
Silver Star Freestyle Club raising money for a new air-bag training site
The local freestyle ski group is raising money for a brand new, off-season training equipment.Silver Star Freestyle Club wants to establish an Air-Bag Training Site, where the athletes can practice their skiing and snowboarding skills when the snow is not flying."This facility will allow our athletes to have acces...
Dec 12, 2025
Read More

What Matters

Council grants
Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank
13h ago
Possible firearm involved
One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream
Dec 13, 2025
Fatal Collision, Highway Closed
One person dead in crash near Revelstoke
Dec 13, 2025
Salaries
Vernon Council to discuss lesser pay increases
Dec 12, 2025
Police Watchdog Investigation
Nakusp RCMP member not facing charges relating to fatal crash
Dec 12, 2025