Advocates demand coroner’s inquest into death of Kelowna woman allegedly murdered by husband

Anti-violence advocates are demanding action after five women were reportedly killed by men in recent weeks in the province.

Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter is calling for a coroner’s inquest into the death of Bailey McCourt, the woman who was killed in a Kelowna parking lot earlier this month, allegedly by her husband.

The organization held a vigil Thursday outside the Vancouver Art Gallery to mourn McCourt’s death as well as those of four other B.C. women killed by men since June 30.

Dahye Son is with Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter, and was among the advocates who gathered at the vigil.

“What can be changed going forward, so this doesn’t keep happening over and over?” Son asked.

McCourt’s ex-husband James Plover has been charged with second-degree murder.

“We’re left with no information about the history of their relationship and all the facts we would need in order to demand change,” Son said.

The Opposition B.C. Conservatives have also called for a coroner’s inquest in the case.

• Read more: Family of murdered B.C. mom says courts didn’t protect her from estranged husband
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• B.C. attorney general says the system failed Kelowna mother allegedly murdered by estranged husband

‘Searching for safety and didn’t get it’

“It’s horrific. It’s very sad,” said B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma of the Bailey McCourt case during a sit-down interview with CTV News on Monday.

“It’s an example of a failure of a system to keep somebody safe that actually reached out for help, went through the court process, was searching for safety and didn’t get it.”

Just hours before he allegedly attacked McCourt on July 4, Plover had been convicted of assault by choking and uttering threats in a domestic violence case. He was allowed to walk free while awaiting sentencing.

Sharma says Plover should have been held in custody. On Monday, she wrote a letter to her counterpart in Ottawa arguing for a change to the Criminal Code that would make it more likely for perpetrators of domestic assaults that include choking to be imprisoned immediately upon conviction.

In a statement to CTV News, Sharma’s office said she met with Federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General Sean Fraser Thursday.

“They had a productive discussion about B.C.’s suggestions for criminal code reform,” the statement reads. “We are hopeful that those suggestions will be reflected in anticipated federal legislation.”

A pattern of violence against women

Meanwhile, a 51-year-old woman died in Richmond on July 18 and her partner was charged with second-degree murder.

Alice Lee works with Asian Women for Equality and says she is “concerned.”

“I am just really concerned about how the city and the police is treating male violence against women and dismissing all of our concerns” Lee said. “There’s a pattern. In the case of Bailey, she was fearful for her life and the police were involved. I think that death definitely could have been prevented.”

On June 30, an elderly couple was found dead in Abbotsford – in an alleged murder-suicide by the woman’s partner.

Earlier this month, a woman in her 60s from Surrey was allegedly killed by her male partner, and a 40-year-old woman was stabbed to death in Gastown.

She has since been identified as Ivy Michelle Bell from Surrey. Officers arrested a 31-year-old man in connection to her death, and police said they believe the suspect and victim knew each other.

With Files from CTV News’ Shannon Patterson.