2027 trial for Kevin Procure charged in random assault in Chilliwack with a 2x4 that cracked a man's skull
Victim Dwight Nelson later died yet Procure charged only with aggravated assault in connection with incident caught on multiple CCTV videos
May 26, 2026
A 12-day trial is scheduled for 40-year-old Kevin Procure charged with aggravated assault of Dwight Nelson in an incident caught on CCTV cameras in February 2026 that saw Nelson's skull cracked by a two-by-four.
Procure was in court on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) to confirm his trial dates. He was denied bail in provincial court in Chilliwack on April 14, 2026, which means he will remain in custody until his trial starts on Feb. 22, 2027. The trial is scheduled to run for the first four days of the three weeks starting February. 22, March 1, and March 8.
Procure was a relatively well-known fixture on the streets downtown as a severe alcoholic. In the early hours of Feb. 21, 2026, 37-year-old Dwight Nelson was walking along Railway Avenue near Young Road pushing a bicycle with a friend.
At a hearing for an application to revoke Procure’s bail on another file and this file on April 14, 2026, the court heard that the two men witnessed a male chopping up pallets. A man, who Crown counsel alleges to be Procure, allegedly yelled at the men claiming that Nelson was pushing his stolen bike. Nelson denied it was that person’s bike.
Procure allegedly then swung a two-by-four piece of lumber like a baseball bat striking Nelson in the head. Nelson was knocked to the ground, left bleeding from his nose, his ears and his eyes. He went to Chilliwack General Hospital but felt the triage process was taking too long and he left.
Still bleeding from his ears two days later, he went back to the hospital where a CT scan revealed a subdural hematoma and a skull fracture radiating from the base of the skull over the top of his head to his eye socket. Despite this serious injury, Nelson declined being admitted and again left the hospital with only ibuprofen.
The court heard that he returned home to a makeshift structure somewhere in the woods in Chilliwack where he lived with his girlfriend. Ten days after that, Nelson apparently hit his head on a homemade chandelier and was left in severe pain. His friend brought him back Chilliwack General Hospital where significant swelling on the brain was found. He was medevaced to Royal Columbian Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
If someone dies several days after being hit on the head intentionally with a piece of lumber, that might be considered manslaughter. In this somewhat unusual circumstance, however, since Nelson suffered another knock on the head on March 5 in between the assault and his death, the causal chain between the alleged assault on Feb. 21 and his death on March 6 was broken, which took homicide off the table.
Crown counsel Michelle Wray told Judge Michael Fortino that while Nelson died “as a result of these injuries as well as a subsequent blow to the head,” the prosecution is not alleging that Procure is legally responsible for Nelson’s death.
Three more trials
Procure is a prolific offender with a lengthy record. He was in fact out on bail facing another criminal charge when the alleged aggravated assault on Nelson occurred.
Wray argued in April that Procure should not be released on bail because he was a danger to the public and to maintain public confidence in the justice system.
His lawyer Chris Terepocki said that Procure suffers from serious alcoholism and the release plan involved rehabilitation with acceptance at Joshua House in the Chilliwack River Valley. Wray replied that residents of Joshua House are also members of the public and their protection is similarly important.
Judge Fortino denied Procure bail, detaining him in custody.
A serious case of aggravated assault of this nature could come with a sentence of up to 14 years in jail. Wray suggested if Procure pleaded guilty that could be as low as three years or as high as five if it goes to trial. So far he is not pleading guilty and the 12-day trial was scheduled, the dates confirmed in court on Tuesday.
The case will be focused on identity, as in, whether it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Procure is the attacker. There are several clips of CCTV footage to rely upon from several businesses from Railway Avenue over to the Chevron at the corner of Young Road and Hocking Avenue.
While the footage isn’t great and the sound in one video is terrible, the court at the bail hearing saw one clip of footage that shows the assault. In another, voices can be heard and the thumping sound of wood hitting Nelson’s head can be heard.
Procure was out on bail for a charge of assault from Nov. 26, 2025, when this alleged incident took place. A trial on that file is scheduled for Oct. 2, 2026. He is also charged with two breaches of his release on that assault charge, which are separate criminal charges for which he faces trials on Nov. 4 and Nov. 12, 2026.
-30-
Want to support independent journalism?
Consider becoming a paid subscriber or make a one-time donation so I can continue this work.
Paul J. Henderson
pauljhenderson@gmail.com
facebook.com/PaulJHendersonJournalist
instagram.com/wordsarehard_pjh
x.com/PeeJayAitch
wordsarehard-pjh.bsky.social