A woman charged with the second degree murder of a 琉璃神社 man sat in Provincial Court, Monday, surrounded by supporters, for the beginning of the preliminary inquiry into the case.

Marlena Isnardy was charged with second degree murder on Feb. 11, 2022, more than a year after Matthew Cholette was found dead outside of a townhouse complex in Black Mountain.

On the evening of Dec. 13, 2020, police were called to the residence in the Black Mountain neighbourhood, for a noise complaint related to an alleged domestic dispute.

Cholette, 27, was found laying in a pool of blood outside the townhouse.

A woman was arrested at the time of the incident but was later released without charges. The woman arrested on the day of the incident was not identified by police.

More than one year later, Isnardy was arrested in February 2022 and charged with second degree murder.

Isnardy was granted bail and was released from custody three months later, on April 28.

Second degree murder is considered a deliberate killing that occurs without planning. A conviction of second degree murder carries a sentence that can range from 10 to 25 years, at the discretion of the court.

She attended court on June 19, for the preliminary inquiry and sat in the front row of the gallery beside two women.

An inquiry is held prior to the trial in cases of a serious offence. Inquiries are typically held when an accused person chooses to proceed with a trial by judge and jury. The preliminary inquiry is intended to ensure the evidence assembled by the Crown is sufficient to proceed with a trial. All information and evidence discussed in the inquiry is barred from publication, due to a ban.

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Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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