Vernon murder accused in 2017 deemed fit for trial

The 2017 Vernon murder defendant was deemed fit to stand trial.

William Bartz died in his Sundance Suites room on June 19, 2017. Richard William Fairgreave and Jacqueline Levins were arrested in his October 2018 and have each been charged with murder in connection with Bartz’s death.

In March 2021, Leafins was sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter in connection with the murder, and Fairgrieve was ruled medically unfit for trial in January 2020.

After the court concluded that Fairgreave was unfit to stand trial, the matter was referred to the BC Review Board. According to BC Prosecution Service Communications his counsel Dan McLaughlin, the committee recently said, “In its opinion, the defendant was found fit to stand trial and returned to court to reassess the suitability question.” I have ordered a hearing,” he concluded.

“Courts have the ultimate responsibility to determine whether a defendant is fit to stand trial and will review the matter and render a verdict,” McLaughlin said.

If the court finds Fairgreave fit, he will be tried for murder and normal criminal proceedings will continue.

A date is set for a fitness hearing in the BC Supreme Court.

Brendan Sikora

Healthmurder vernon