Killed over Suzie the Yorkie? Robert Freeman’s trial for double murder in Chilliwack River Valley set to start Monday
Family seeking justice for John Kavaloff and Valerie Smith murdered in September 2023 in an alleged neighbour dispute
May 4, 2026
Can 85-year-old Robert Amede Freeman find another way to delay his BC Supreme Court trial on two counts of second-degree murder?
The family of John Kavaloff and Valerie Smith surely hope not but after the nearly 40 court appearances over two-and-a-half years, it wouldn’t be surprising.
Freeman’s 20-day trial is scheduled to start Monday (May 4, 2026) in Chilliwack.
While Freeman is facing these incredibly serious criminal charges for an alleged act of extreme violence with a gun against his two innocent neighbours, he’s been living out on bail in the community.
Most recently, he apparently fell into a coma then emerged unscathed after which he re-elected from a trial by judge and jury to judge alone in BC Supreme Court.
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The 20-day jury trial that was scheduled to be held in November 2025 was delayed to Monday because of his lawyer’s lack of availability. Freeman then fired that lawyer and moved on to Chilliwack lawyer Martin Finch.
Freeman is charged with shooting Kavaloff and Smith in the mobile home park where they were neighbours. The act was allegedly over a dispute about the couple’s small dog, a Yorkie named Suzie. He was released on bail eight days after his arrest in September 2023 and has been living freely with his son in a townhouse in Chilliwack since then.
John Kavaloff, Valerie Smith, and Suzie the Yorkie in various family photos. (Submitted photos)
The case has been subject to numerous delays over the years with three dozen court appearances.
At one in February, family members and friends held a small rally on the front steps of the Chilliwack Law Courts to express their frustration with the delays.
A month later on March 24, 2026, the family learned that Freeman fell ill and was in a coma at Chilliwack General Hospital, potentially further delaying the matter, certainly adding more uncertainty.
Then, a week after that at a hearing on March 31 for an update, the family learned that Freeman had woken up and was deemed fit to stand trial, which was to go ahead in May with that jury selection in late April.
Then that also changed, but this time no more delay was permitted.
While Freeman is facing trial for double murder and living out in the community, he expresses nothing but belligerence and impatience in the courtroom, huffing and puffing, issuing sarcastic and pestering comments to this reporter.
Given the tragic drama seen so far, more could be on the way but it remains to be seen if Freeman is encouraged by his new lawyer to behave with some civility in court.
Day one of the trial is scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2026.
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Paul J. Henderson
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