Update
The B.C Prosecution Service says Curtis Sagmoen’s trial has been rescheduled to continue Thursday and Friday this week for legal arguments in B.C. Supreme Court in Vernon.
“Evidence resumes on Monday (Dec. 9) ,” says Dan McLaughlin, Communications Counsel with the B.C. Prosecution Service.
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Original story
It’s been the centre of protests over violence against women — the trial of Curtis Wayne Sagmoen resumes Monday in Vernon Supreme Court.
The 38-year-old Shuswap resident is accused of threatening a sex trade worker with a gun near Falkland in 2017.
Sagmoen is scheduled to appear in court today for the continuation of a trial on five charges connected to the incident. He’s accused of intentionally discharging a firearm, use of firearm, uttering threats, disguising face with intent and possession of a controlled substance.
The trial began in September but soon turned into a voir dire hearing to determine the admissability of evidence, including a recorded RCMP interview with the suspect.
A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service told Vernon Matters there will likely be further voir dire hearings within the trial to determine admissibility of evidence over the next few days.
A second trial involving Sagmoen on one charge of assault causing bodily harm over an alleged incident also near Falkland, is scheduled to start Dec. 9.
The Sagmoen trial has become a focal point for the local Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s group that has repeatedly raised the issue of four missing women in the North Okanagan and Shuswap regions.
The body of missing woman Traci Genereaux of Vernon was found on property belonging to Sagmoen’s parents late in 2017. Police have classified the death as suspicious, but there have been no suspects named in relation to the investigation.
