BC Supreme Court trial in 2026 for man accused of murdering girlfriend in Seabird Island near Agassiz
Pre-trial conference held Wednesday in Chilliwack for Frederick Paul Charlie
The man accused of killing 33-year-old Vanessa Terry on Sq'éwqel (Seabird Island) on April 6, 2024 will spend the next five months behind bars awaiting the next step in his second-degree murder trial.
A preliminary inquiry was held at the end of August into September in the case of Frederick Paul Charlie who is ordered to stand trial in BC Supreme Court. A pre-trial conference was held Wednesday (Oct. 15, 2025), and the case is now next scheduled for a voir dire hearing on March 23, 2026.
A voir dire is like a trial within a trial, often used to discuss the admissibility of certain pieces of evidence, sometimes to discuss alleged Charter violations.
Charlie, 36, is accused of killing Terry who was found dead in a home on Charles Drive on Sq'éwqel (Seabird Island) on April 6, 2024.
Terry, a mother of three, 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. For the preliminary inquiry, some also attended. A vehicle was parked out front of the courthouse plastered with stickers honouring Terry and decrying domestic violence.
Charlie committed a string of domestic violence incidents leading up to the alleged murder over a period of two years, starting with an incident on Jan. 2, 2022, when Charlie assaulted a girlfriend, although it's unclear if that was Terry.
Timeline leading up to a murder:
January 2, 2022 - Charlie assaulted a girlfriend, according to court services online
April 30, 2022 - Charlie breached conditions of his probation
September 28, 2022 - He breached conditions of probation again
November 16, 2022 - Ordered detained by Judge Kristen Mundstock
February 17, 2023 - Sentenced to 12 months probation for April 2022 breach
March 28, 2023 - Sentenced to 18 months probation for September 2022 breach
April 6, 2023 - Sentenced to 18 months probation for the January 2022 assault
August 23, 2023 - Charlie is charged with another K file assault
August 24, 2023 - He is released from custody with no financial obligation by an administrative judge
April 6, 2024 - 33-year-old Vanessa Terry found dead
May 13, 2024 - Stay of proceedings issued (charges dropped) for August 2023 assault
September 5, 2024 - Crown counsel approved one count of second-degree murder against Charlie
April 8, 2025 - Video court appearance to confirm trial dates
August 25 – Sept. 3, 2025 - Preliminary inquiry scheduled in advance of trial
Oct. 15, 2025 - Pre-trial conference held in B.C. Supreme Court in Chilliwack
March 23, 2025 - Voir dire scheduled in Charlie's case
Charlie remains in custody at the Surrey Pretrial Centre.
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Paul J. Henderson
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