Two Quesnel court cases involving allegations of violence have had their next proceedings determined.
Joseph Simpson
“Joseph Simpson is in court on June 12 to fix a trial date,” said Dan McLaughlin, communications counsel for the BC Prosecution Service – Ministry of Attorney General. “This file is in Supreme Court.”
Simpson, 52, is the accused in the death of Carmelita Abraham of the Takla Nation. He was the subject of a preliminary inquiry that ran from April 12-14 in Quesnel. Simpson has been charged with murder and interference with a dead body.
Abraham, 33, had been the focus of an investigation beginning Jan. 4, 2022 when the Williams Lake RCMP received a missing persons report from her family. Investigators were able to confirm that Carmelita left Williams Lake for Quesnel on Dec. 27 or 28.
RCMP issued a statement Saturday, Jan 15, confirming they had located the body of Abraham and charged Simpson.
“Based on the totality of the information, the investigation turned from a missing persons investigation into a suspected homicide. The investigation continued to develop and on January 13, 51-year-old Quesnel resident, Joseph Simpson, was arrested,” said the RCMP statement.
Police said at the time that Simpson and Abraham knew one another, but did not elaborate on their relationship.
Richard James Meier
“Mr. Meier is set for trial on September 16, 2024 in Quesnel. The trial is in Supreme Court,” said McLaughlin.
Meier, 41, is charged with one count of aggravated assault stemming from an arrest on Dec. 8, 2021 related to an alleged incident at the Northern Network of Peers for Equality facility. In the apparent altercation, a 36-year-old male suffered serious injuries.
“The suspect, who has been identified, and the victim, are known to each other and police do not believe there is any further risk to the public,” an RCMP statement said at the time.
READ MORE: Simpson back in Quesnel court May 1
READ MORE: UPDATE: Quesnel RCMP investigating downtown assault
