BC Supreme Court trial scheduled for man charged with murdering girlfriend on Seabird Island in 2024
Family, friends of victim Vanessa Terry, a mother of three, have been attending court appearances of alleged killer Frederick Paul Charlie
A preliminary inquiry wrapped up last week for the second-degree murder case of Frederick Paul Charlie who is now ordered to stand trial in BC Supreme Court.
Charlie, 36, is accused of killing Vanessa Terry who was found dead in a home on Charles Drive on Sq'éwqel (Seabird Island) on April 6, 2024.
A 33-year-old mother of three, Terry left behind devastated family and friends, many who have been driving down from her home community of Lillooet for Charlie's court appearances. At an appearance in Abbotsford on Oct. 17, 2024, a group of them were wearing T-shirts to honour her, holding teddy bears that contained her ashes.
A preliminary inquiry started Aug. 25 running to Sept. 3, and members of her family were also present. A vehicle was parked out front of the courthouse plastered with stickers honouring Terry and decrying domestic violence.
One year before Terry died, Charlie was sentenced to 18 months probation for a domestic assault. Three weeks after that sentence for the January 2022 assault, on April 30, 2022, the Charlie was charged with breaching that probation. Then five months after that, on Sept. 28, 2022, he breached conditions again, which can mean he contacted his girlfriend against court-ordered conditions not to.
In early 2023, Charlie was sentenced to 12 months and 18 months probation for the 2022 breaches and 18 months probation for the assault. On August 23, 2023, he was then charged with yet another domestic assault, known in the court system as 'K' files because they are designated as such.
The next day, August 24, 2023, Charlie was released with no financial obligation by administrative judge Rita S. Bowry in Chilliwack provincial court.
Eight months later, Terry was dead.
"It sucks that I'm just left with memories," Terry's sister Mia Roberts told Global News outside the courthouse earlier in the proceedings. "It is really difficult to deal with. As a big sister she always looked out for us."
The family said they planned to attend all Charlie's court hearings and they are demanding justice for Terry.
Charlie remains in custody at the Surrey Pretrial Centre until the trial in the fall.
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Paul J. Henderson
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