Calls for ‘femicide' to be declared distinct crime in wake of Kelowna mother's tragic death
The Kelowna mother of two young children was attacked, allegedly with a hammer, in a parking lot on July 4 while out on her lunch break.
The longtime Kelowna resident was honoured at a memorial on Saturday evening at a ball diamond where she grew up playing ball.
Those in attendance, including McCourt's grieving mother, released 32 balloons in honour of the slain woman.
'I haven't had a minute yet to think so tonight, tonight's my night. Tonight's my night to say goodbye,' said an emotional Karen Fehr.
McCourt's friend was also significantly injured in the attack but survived.
McCourt's estranged husband, James Plover, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder the day after McCourt succumbed to her injuries.
Story continues below advertisement
2:05
Woman dead, man fatally shot by police after assault call at Surrey home
McCourt is one of several B.C. women who died this month due to intimate partner violence.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
'The numbers are staggering. These incidents are happening every other day,' said Karen Mason, who co-founded SOAR, which stands for Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research. 'We must do something drastic if we actually care to stop it or make things better.'
That drastic change said Mason, who is also the former executive director of the Kelowna Women's Shelter, must include an amendment to the criminal code to declare femicide as its own criminal offence.
'It's going to mean that perpetrators, accused abusers, stay behind bars until they can prove they should be let out, ' Mason said. 'It can leave survivors not living in fear.'
The deadly attack occurred a few hours after Plover was convicted of domestic violence charges.
Story continues below advertisement
The charges, including assault by strangulation and uttering threats, stemmed from an incident in June 2024. The identities of the victims in the earlier case are protected by a publication ban.
Despite the conviction, he was not remanded in custody.
According to B.C. Prosecution Service, Plover was bound by the terms of release conditions in the earlier court proceeding. He was due in court for sentencing in mid-September.
While it would not commit to declaring femicide a distinct crime when asked by Global News on July 9, Canada's Justice Department stated in part, 'Our government has committed to cracking down even further on repeat, violent offenders by strengthening the Criminal Code to protect victims.'
Advocates however, say the time to act is now.
'The one thing that's unique in this case is that it happened in a public space, in broad daylight, which I think has really forced a reckoning,' Mason said. 'We can't sweep this under the rug. We can't pretend this didn't happen.'
McCourt's grieving mother said she will push for change in honour of her daughter.
'If this could be the one to give us a reason to actually change it, you know, I might be able to find a little more peace in what happened,' Fehr said.
Story continues below advertisement
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
27 minutes ago
- Global News
Montreal police investigating suspicious death in Saint-Léonard
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Montreal police are investigating a suspicious death that occurred early this morning. A 911 call around 4 a.m. alerted emergency services to a man lying unconscious on a street in the city's Saint-Léonard borough. 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 Police found the man had an upper body injury, possibly caused by a sharp object, and attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his identity has not been released. Police established a security perimeter at the location, but said earlier this morning that the circumstances surrounding the incident were unknown. A section of the street was closed in both directions and an investigation is ongoing.
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Warsaw archbishop asks Vatican to defrock Polish priest charged with the killing of a homeless man
The archbishop of Warsaw, Poland, has asked the Vatican to defrock a priest charged with the killing of a 68-year-old homeless man who was beaten with an ax and set on fire. Prosecutors on Saturday charged the priest, only identified as Mirosław M. in line with Polish privacy rules, with murder with particular cruelty. He is being detained ahead of a trial and faces 15 years to life behind bars. Investigators say the priest and the victim, Anatol Cz., were together in a car late Thursday when an argument broke out, according to Aneta Góźdź, a spokesperson for the Radom District Prosecutor's Office. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The fight stemmed from a donation agreement where the priest had agreed to provide lifelong assistance and care for the man, Góźdź said in a statement. The argument escalated over the homeless man's future housing. The priest allegedly struck the victim on the head with an ax, doused him in flammable liquid and set him on fire, the spokesperson said. The priest then drove away when he saw a bicycle light approaching. Story continues below advertisement The bicyclist found the victim engulfed in flames and called for first responders, Góźdź said. 'An autopsy showed that the victim suffered burns covering 80% of his body and head injuries caused by a sharp-edged heavy object,' Góźdź said. Warsaw Archbishop Adrian Galbas on Saturday requested the Holy See to dismiss the priest from the priesthood, the highest penalty in canon law for a cleric. In a statement to the archdiocese on Friday, Galbas asked for Catholics to pray for the victim and his loved ones. The archbishop said he was 'devastated' by the crime and pledged to cooperate with investigators. The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Global News
5 hours ago
- Global News
A man accused of stabbing 11 people at a Walmart is in Michigan authorities' custody
Chaos unfolded at a Walmart in Michigan after a man burst into the store during a calm shopping afternoon and stabbed 11 people at random, authorities say. The attack on Saturday left six victims in critical condition and a suspect in custody. The 42-year-old suspect entered the store shortly before 5 p.m. and used a folding knife to stab the victims, the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office said in a statement on social media. Their ages weren't immediately known. A sheriff's deputy arrived within minutes and took the man into custody. Steven Carter was loading his truck in the Walmart parking lot when he saw a man cut a woman's throat with a knife. About five minutes later, the man was surrounded by shoppers in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun. The group of five or six people kept yelling to the man 'drop the knife,' he said, and the man responded: 'I don't care, I don't care.' He kept backing away from the crowd, before someone tackled and subdued him. Story continues below advertisement 'At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack,' said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. 'And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. And that was, it was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy An update on the condition of the victims was expected early Sunday. Emergency vehicles and uniformed first responders gathered in the parking lot of the shopping center that houses several other retail stores. Authorities also were seen interviewing employees, still wearing blue uniform vests and name tags, nearby as the response gave way to an investigation. Tiffany DeFell, 36, who lives in Honor, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Traverse City, said she was in the store's parking lot when she saw chaos erupt around her. 'It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,' she said. 'This is something you see out of the movies. It's not what you expect to see where you're living.' Munson Healthcare said via social media that 11 people were being treated at the region's largest hospital in northern Michigan. Spokesperson Megan Brown said all were stabbing victims. Six people were critical and five were in serious condition late Saturday, she said. Sheriff Michael Shea said the weapon involved appeared to be a folding-style knife. Shea said the suspect is believed to be a Michigan resident but declined to share further details. Michigan State Police had said earlier in the day that the suspect was in authorities' custody. Story continues below advertisement Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said: 'Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.' Walmart said in a statement that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation. 'Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we're thankful for the swift action of first responders,' the statement said. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that bureau officials were responding to 'provide any necessary support.' Traverse City is a popular vacation spot on the coast of Lake Michigan. It is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses and is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
