The Penticton man accused of the second-degree murder of his common-law wife has been directed to put his fate in the hands of a jury.
Judge Gale Sinclair said on Wednesday Gregory Keith Wiens will be facing a trial in Supreme Court before a jury. Wiens' defence lawyer Don Skogstad waived his right to a preliminary hearing, held to determine if the Crown has enough evidence to justify a trial. An application still can be submitted by the defence to have a trial before a judge alone.
Wiens turned himself into police in August, when RCMP responded to a report that his 55-year-old partner Lynn Kalmring had been shot and killed. RCMP were called to a home in the gated-community of Sandbridge in the 3300 block of South Main Street just after midnight where Wiens was arrested without incident.
Wiens is a retired RCMP officer who worked at the Summerland RCMP detachment before his retirement in 2001. Kalmring's family said they were shocked when the man was granted bail in Kelowna. Wiens moved back to his Penticton residence to live under the care of his brother James, who moved from Ontario to act as a surety until the eventual trial is complete. Wiens was forced to turn over his passport to the court, remain in B.C. and report weekly to a bail supervisor. Other conditions included not to possess or consume alcohol or drugs, turn over all firearms and not to have contact with 14 people — largely family of the deceased.
Wiens, who did not make a personal appearance in court this week, has a court appointment on Monday to fix a date.