Latest news with #BaileyMcCourt
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Hundreds turn out for cupcake fundraiser in memory of Bailey McCourt
Long and steady lines stretched down the block outside Cupcasions bakery in Kelowna Tuesday. Long and steady lines stretched down the block outside a Kelowna bakery Tuesday, as hundreds turned out for a fundraiser in memory of Bailey McCourt. The event was organized by the owner of Cupcasions bakery, who wanted to honour the mother of two who was killed earlier this month. 'I was surprised, but I'm not surprised,' said Libbie Phillips, of the huge turnout. 'Kelowna is an amazing community. When the need arises, we jump in.' Cupcasions donated all proceeds from the day's sales, and customers began lining up well before doors opened. They didn't stop coming. McCourt died on July 4 when she was attacked by a man with a hammer in Kelowna parking lot. Her parents, Karen Fehr and Shane McCourt, were among those who visited the bakery for the fundraising event. 'I just broke down crying over the support. It's incredible,' said her mother. Her father added: 'She was my firstborn. She's got a special place in my heart.' McCourt's ex-husband and the father of her youngest daughter, James Plover, has been charged with second-degree murder. Earlier on the morning of the attack, he was convicted on four counts in a domestic violence case. Kelowna's mayor told CTV News the community is grieving and frustrated by what many see as a preventable tragedy. 'There is a lot of hurt that this has caused,' said Tom Dyas. 'So, the concern that the community is showing right now is just the love that is here.' The team at Cupcasions started work at 5:30 a.m. to meet demand, because so many pre-orders had already poured in.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Huge outpouring of support at ‘Bailey's Day' fundraiser
Vancouver Watch Kelowna bakery Cupcasions witnessed a huge turn out Tuesday as it held its 'Bailey's Day' fundraiser for killed mother of two Bailey McCourt.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
New details, troubling questions emerge in B.C. woman's killing
Vancouver Watch Why was the man charged with the murder of Bailey McCourt not held behind bars after a domestic violence conviction hours before the brutal slaying?
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
Okanagan bakery raises funds for family of Bailey McCourt, mother killed in hammer attack
A never-ending stream of people flows through the doors of Cupcasions Handheld Dessert Specialists Inc. The Okanagan bakery was extremely busy on Tuesday to remember Bailey McCourt. 'She was a beautiful, beautiful girl. You walked in with her smile, and you immediately fell in love with her,' said Karen Fehr, McCourt's mother. The local bakery is serving up 'Bailey's Favourites' in support of her loved ones where 100 per cent of the funds raised will go to her family. McCourt was killed in a hammer attack earlier this month. Her estranged husband is charged with second-degree murder and remains in custody. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The more we talk about her, everybody needs healing right now, and the thing that is keeping me going is all the stories,' said Fehr. Story continues below advertisement McCourt leaves behind two young daughters. Cupcasions owner, Libbie Philips, knew McCourt through her business and felt compelled to act. 'When I read her name, I stopped dead in my tracks,' said Philips. 'My husband said, 'Do you know her?' And I said, 'She was my bride,' so this wasn't even a second thought, it's what we had to do.' Many of the people coming to show their support are also demanding changes to the way intimate partner violence is dealt with by the justice system. 'I hope this creates a bigger movement, and change happens,' said Michele Chaplin, who waited in line for more than 20 minutes to support the fundraiser. Valerie Jensen drove from Vernon to take part. 'We need to change our justice system,' said Jensen. 'We need to change how we are raising our boys and men.' Jennifer Robertson says she hopes that what happened to McCourt will not happen to more women. 'I am hoping this will bring to light many, many, many situations like this for a lot of women out there, and I hope that this drives change,' said Robertson.
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Toronto Sun
No talk of custody when B.C. man was convicted of choking. Then, his ex-partner was killed
James Plover has been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of his ex-partner, Bailey McCourt Published Jul 15, 2025 • Last updated 19 minutes ago • 4 minute read Bailey Plover is shown in an undated handout photo. Kelowna RCMP say Plover and another woman were assaulted in an attack on July 4. She later died of her injuries, and her estranged husband James Plover has been charged with second-degree murder. Photo by HO / The Canadian Press When James Plover was convicted on July 4 of choking someone and uttering threats, in a rage that also saw him destroy a table with a machete, his defence lawyer and the prosecutor took no issue with delaying his sentencing for up to 10 weeks, pending a psychiatric report. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In the meantime, the former jail guard was to be released, and a recording of the hearing in a provincial court in Kelowna suggests there was no discussion in light of his conviction of potential risks he posed out of custody — he had already been out on $500 bail, with conditions, ahead of his hearing. Less than three hours after the court adjourned, police were called to a parking lot about four kilometres from the courthouse, where Plover's estranged wife, Bailey McCourt, was gravely injured in an attack. She later died and Plover has been charged with second-degree murder in the killing. The identities of the victims in Plover's previous case are the subject of a publication ban. The death of McCourt in the parking lot attack that also seriously injured another woman has galvanized advocates for bail reform and better protection for victims of intimate partner violence. Protesters including McCourt's mother rallied outside the Kelowna court complex last week on the day of Plover's appearance on the murder charge. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the recording of the July 4 hearing reviewed by The Canadian Press, provincial court Judge David Ruse says Plover's relationship with the choking victim had been deteriorating in June 2024 and was 'described as terrible, tumultuous and stressful.' Ruse said Plover and the victim became embroiled in a heated argument, and he choked the complainant as evidenced by neck bruising shown in photographs presented to the court. Ruse said in his oral reasons for judgment that Plover denied making threats to kill anyone other than himself, and he attempted suicide after the violent altercation. The judge said Plover at one point grabbed a machete and destroyed a dining room table and other items of 'emotional value' to the complainant, and called his parents to whom he expressed 'suicidal ideations.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The judge said Plover's mother attended the scene, and acted as an 'intermediary' between him and police before he was arrested. Ruse said Plover had testified that the choking incident was in 'self-defence,' and he had been 'mortified' by his actions to the point of wanting to take his own life. The judge didn't accept Plover's evidence. 'This self-loathing for his own actions is inconsistent with his destruction of things that he knew were precious to the complainant,' Ruse said. 'These acts of destruction are consistent with anger directed at the complainant.' Ruse said the complainant did exaggerate at times, including testifying that 30 police cars had responded to the scene, when the judge said there were about a dozen. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But the judge accepted the complainant's evidence and found the Crown proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Plover had uttered threats that 'were consistent with an intention to manipulate or control the complainant.' The court hearing turned to a discussion of a pre-sentence report for Plover after Ruse's reasons concluded, and defence lawyer Cory Armour said he and Crown prosecutor Catherine Rezansoff agreed that there would be 'some benefit' to Plover undergoing a psychiatric assessment. Rezansoff told the court of a potential weeks-long wait for the report due to a 'backlog,' and Armour said there was no issue with delays of up to 10 weeks since his client had been convicted. The court set Plover's next court date for mid-September, and the hearing adjourned at around 9:56 a.m. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Just before 1 p.m., Kelowna RCMP say they received a report about an assault with a weapon, in the attack on McCourt and the other woman. Plover was arrested and charged with second-degree murder the next day. Lawyer Armour didn't respond to a request for comment. An online resume says Plover previously worked as a jail guard for the City of Kelowna and Penticton, and says he has an associate degree in criminal justice from Okanagan College. The City of Kelowna and the Kelowna RCMP confirmed in emailed statements that Plover was employed by the Commissionaires, which was contracted by the city jail guard services. 'He worked as a cell guard at the Kelowna RCMP detachment between June 2017 and November 2018,' the city's statement said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Commissionaires B.C. said in an emailed statement that Plover worked for them between 2016 and 2018 before resigning. 'During his time with us, Mr. Plover held an Enhanced Reliability Clearance, which is a federal-level clearance that requires extensive background investigations, including checks on character references, employment history, financial integrity and criminal records,' the Commissionaires B.C. said in a statement. 'This level of clearance is only granted to individuals who meet rigorous credibility and trustworthiness standards, and it is monitored throughout the duration of employment. 'We categorically condemn all forms of harassment, violence and spousal abuse,' its statement said. More recently Plover worked as a manager at a Kelowna Boston Pizza, including the night before the 2024 attack. The restaurant's owners, who were listed as references on the resume, declined to comment on Plover's time working there. Plover's resume lists one of his skills as 'conflict management.' Read More NFL Editorial Cartoons Canada Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA
