Second-degree murder charge laid
A Kamloops woman is dead and a man is in custody after a stabbing on the Tk'emlups Indian Band reserve on Saturday night (Oct. 20).
Investigators believe the incident, which took place in a home in the 600-block of East Shuswap Road, was a case of domestic violence turned deadly.
Deborah Anne Joseph, 48, was found dead in the home shortly after 9 p.m. Initial reports indicated she had been stabbed, but police won't confirm a cause of death.
Her common-law husband, 48-year-old Gerald Raymond Peters, was arrested at the scene and remains in custody facing a charge of second-degree murder.
RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said police are familiar with the couple.
"The Kamloops RCMP rural detachment has in the past attended this particular residence involving this couple in regard to domestic-violence issues," he said.
Court documents show Peters has a history of domestic violence.
Earlier this month, he was sentenced to an 18-month probation term after pleading guilty to assault causing bodily harm. That charge dated back to an incident on July 2, 2011 involving a girlfriend.
In June 2008, he served two weeks in jail after breaching the terms of his probation stemming from a previous assault conviction.
Mounties are staying tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding Joseph's death.
Moskaluk refused to answer questions about what was happening in the home prior to the slaying, but did hint that there may have been other people present at the time.
"This is the type of investigation where a small group of people might have information," he said.
"So, we want to protect that information so that it will hold up in court."
The home at 625 East Shuswap Rd. remained behind police tape on Monday, Oct. 22, as investigators attempted to piece together what happened to Joseph.
"They are making progress in the investigation," Moskaluk said.
"In a situation like this, we do want to be very methodical. We certainly do not want to miss any evidence at all."
Joseph's death is Kamloops' third murder of 2012.
Peters, who was remanded in custody by a justice of the peace on Sunday, Oct. 21, is expected to make his first court appearance later this week.
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