July 11,2025
RED FM News Desk
A Conservative MLA is demanding stronger action on intimate partner violence following the tragic killing of a woman in Kelowna.
On the morning of July 4, Bailey McCourt’s former partner, James Edward Plover, was convicted on four charges stemming from a 2024 incident, including assault by choking.
Just hours after the conviction, Plover allegedly launched a violent attack on McCourt and another woman at a busy intersection, an incident witnessed by many. McCourt died from her injuries, and Plover now faces a charge of second-degree murder.
Steve Kooner, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough and the Opposition critic for the attorney general, says this case highlights the urgent need for justice system reforms. He is calling for mandatory risk reassessments to be conducted not only when a person is charged, but again at the time of conviction. “Circumstances can change, which is why reassessment must happen at both points,” Kooner said.
He also urged Attorney General Niki Sharma to ensure the BC Prosecution Service enforces the use of “K” file flags—designations used to identify cases involving intimate partner violence. These flags are intended to alert the courts to the serious nature of such cases, and Kooner insists they must be consistently applied and visible.
In addition, Kooner is urging Sharma to advocate for federal reforms to bail and detention laws. He says tighter restrictions are needed for repeat offenders of intimate partner violence to prevent them from being released on bail.
Last June, Sharma initiated an independent review to improve responses to sexual and intimate partner violence. The findings, released last month, revealed that most survivors never report their abuse, and those who do face major obstacles to justice. The review’s authors recommended declaring gender-based violence an epidemic.
But Kooner says the time for studies is over—now, the government must take real, decisive action.
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