Rally for Bailey McCourt/Vernon Matters Staff

By Jamie Tawil

Rally for Bailey

Accused in Bailey McCourt’s death appears in Kelowna court amid calls for domestic violence reform

Sep 16, 2025 | 10:51 AM

Scores of people gathered outside the Kelowna Courthouse Tuesday as James Plover appeared in court, charged with second-degree murder in the death of his former partner, Bailey McCourt.

McCourt, 28, died in hospital following a daytime assault in a Kelowna parking lot on July 4.

The court appearance, conducted via video, focused on procedural matters. A date for disclosure in the murder case was set for Nov. 25, while Plover’s other matter was adjourned to Nov. 17 for a sentencing hearing, according to Damienne Darby, communications counsel.

Plover has also been found guilty of three counts of uttering threats and one count of assault by strangling, and faces sentencing for that in November. A publication ban is in place regarding the victims in that case.

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Outside the courthouse, Shannon Christensen, founder and CEO of Mamas for Mamas, spoke about the broader implications of the case.

“We’re here today because Bailey McCourt was murdered,” Christensen said. “Her estranged ex-husband allegedly came after her only hours after a previous assault. It speaks to the unbelievable breaks in the justice system.”

Christensen called for changes to the bail system and more protections for survivors of domestic violence.

“There needs to be reform. We need an actual registry for domestic violence offenders, and it should not be up to the woman to prove she is unsafe. It should be up to the offender to prove they are not a threat,” she said.

She also stressed the need for stricter charges in cases of domestic violence homicides.

“Whenever there is a domestic violence murder, it should be first-degree murder right away. These individuals have been planning this for a long time. This is an ongoing cycle of abuse,” Christensen said.

Community organizations, including Mamas for Mamas, are advocating for what the family has called “Bailey’s Law,” which would require stronger assessments of lethality risk at bail hearings and reform of policies for high-risk domestic offenders. Christensen highlighted the importance of assessing risk based on what an offender is capable of, not just past charges.

“People often say this is the first offence. No, it is just the first time the offender was actually charged. Most domestic violence never reaches court,” Christensen said.

Scores of community members continue to push for legislative changes to better protect survivors and prevent further tragedies.