16.94°C Vancouver

Oct 5, 2020 7:29 PM -

Penticton, B.C., man accused in 4 deaths to plead guilty: defence

Share On

The lawyer for a man accused in a shooting that left four people dead in Penticton, B.C., says his client plans to plead guilty next week.

John Brittain was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder after the shooting in April last year.

Rudi Winter, Barry and Susan Wonch and Darlene Knippelberg were all killed.

Defence lawyer Paul McMurray told a B.C. Supreme Court judge hearing the case in Kelowna that he's expecting Brittain to plead guilty to all four indictments in court on Oct. 14.

Brittain was a former city employee whom Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki described after the shooting as a gentleman who did his job well.

Police said shortly after the shooting that the victims were in their 60s and 70s and a motive hadn't been determined.

Latest news

motorcyclist-seriously-injured-after-surrey-police-attempted-traffic-stop-iio-investigating
BCAug 07, 2026

Motorcyclist seriously injured after Surrey police attempted traffic stop; IIO investigating

A motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after a collision in Surrey early Friday following an attempted traffic stop by the Surrey Police Service. According to a Surrey Police Service news release, an officer attempted to stop a speeding motorcycle at about 3:30 a.m. near the Trans-Canada Highway and the 104 Avenue off-ramp. Police said the rider fled into oncoming traffic before colliding with a civilian vehicle. The motorcyclist was transported to hospital by BC Emergency Health Services for treatment. Police said no other people were injured in th
canadian-dairy-farmers-urge-ottawa-not-to-make-dairy-concessions-in-u-s-trade-talks
CanadaAug 07, 2026

Canadian dairy farmers urge Ottawa not to make dairy concessions in U.S. trade talks

Canadian dairy producers are urging the federal government not to offer any concessions on the dairy sector or Canada's supply management system as trade negotiations with the United States continue ahead of a key tariff deadline. In a statement, Dairy Farmers of Canada said the country's food sovereignty "is not for sale" and warned that any agreement weakening the dairy sector would not be in Canada's national interest. The organization said Canada has already made several concessions in recent months in an effort to advance discussions with the United States, but argued that the Trump admin
punjab-seeks-centres-intervention-over-canadian-work-permit-issues-affecting-students
IndiaAug 07, 2026

Punjab seeks Centre's intervention over Canadian work permit issues affecting students

Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh says the state government is making efforts to protect the interests of Punjabi students in Canada who are facing work permit-related difficulties. According to the minister, about 1,500 students have been affected. He said the Punjab government is closely monitoring the situation to better understand the challenges faced by the students and to identify measures that could support them. Dr. Ravjot Singh said he has written to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar seeking an urgent meeting on the issue. In the letter, he urged the Central gover
rcmp-investigating-five-suspicious-brush-fires-near-shuswap-lake-amid-extreme-wildfire-danger
BCAug 07, 2026

RCMP investigating five suspicious brush fires near Shuswap Lake amid extreme wildfire danger

RCMP are investigating five suspicious brush fires reported in the Shuswap Lake area after multiple fires broke out within a short period Wednesday evening while the region was under an extreme wildfire danger rating. According to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, three fires were reported along Squilax–Anglemont Road, each approximately 100 metres apart. Shortly afterward, two additional fires were reported in the nearby Anglemont Estates area. Officials said the fires were contained quickly due to the prompt response of local residents and firefighters, preventing significant damage.
CanadaAug 07, 2026

Canada weighs trade concessions as it seeks relief from U.S. tariffs

The federal government is considering a series of trade concessions as it seeks relief from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The measures under consideration reportedly include easing restrictions on the sale of U.S. liquor in some provinces, removing Canada's retaliatory tariffs on automobiles and expanding market access for U.S. dairy products. According to the sources, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is attempting to demonstrate to the United States that Canada is committed to improving bilateral trade relations. One of

Related News