An high-risk sex offender and accused murderer told a Penticton court he fears for his own life behind bars.
Roger Badour limped into the Penticton provincial courthouse on Monday, sporting a grey beard and matching longer hair, for an appearance before Judge Meg Shaw.
It was almost two weeks ago that the man, who has been charged with the first-degree murder of a Princeton woman, appeared via video pleading with another judge to be moved from North Fraser pre-trial centre to Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre because of various difficulties related to his health and issues with prison guards and other prisoners.
North Fraser has been reported as the province’s most overcrowded maximum-security jail. One inmate was killed, while corrections officers and other inmates have been assaulted at the pre-trial centre this past summer.
Badour’s lawyer, James Pennington, said on Monday outside the courtroom that his client alleges a guard threw the 56-year-old to the ground and “stomped on his leg,” resulting in some injuries.
“He alleges another inmate offered him a shank to protect himself,” said Pennington.
Badour has been in Penticton jail cells since last week and will make his next appearance on Wednesday for the start of his preliminary inquiry. Pennington said Badour will then be housed at Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre.
RCMP allege that Badour killed Gisele Duckham in November at her residence in the 2000 block of Osprey Lake Road in Princeton. An autopsy examination confirmed the woman died as a result of gunshot wounds. Victoria police had been searching for the high-risk sex offender for eight months after he disappeared from the capital city while on parole as part of a seven-year sentence for sexual assault.
Badour was pulled over by Penticton RCMP on Nov. 8 in the 100 block of Main Street for a traffic violation. RCMP said Badour provided a false name which prompted the constable to investigate further in order to establish the man’s real identity. Badour’s vehicle was also searched at this time and RCMP allegedly found a small amount of marijuana and three firearms — two of which were loaded.
RCMP said Badour eventually provided his correct information and it was revealed that he had an outstanding Canada-wide warrant. As the investigation continued, RCMP attended the residence of Duckham to check on her well-being and found her dead.
Badour has a lengthy criminal history and his victims were often women with mental challenges and/or substance abuse problems. Victoria police issued a public warning when he was released on parole that said his crimes began to involve sex offences when he was in his 30s.