Slain Kelowna woman’s family demands changes to the justice system

The family of Bailey McCourt, who was murdered last month in Kelowna, is calling for legislative changes.

The family of Bailey McCourt are calling for legislative reform after the murder of the 32-year-old mother in in Kelowna, B.C. in July.

“We’re not going to stop fighting until we see these changes implemented,” said Bailey McCourt’s aunt, Debbie Henderson, Thursday.

The mother of two was beaten to death with a hammer in broad daylight in a parking lot, July 4. Her friend was also attacked and left with injuries.

McCourt’s estranged husband, James Plover, was charged with second degree murder not long after.

On the day of the attack, Plover had been convicted of uttering threats and assault by choking in a domestic violence case, but he wasn’t held in custody, pending his sentencing.

Henderson says McCourt’s death was preventable, and they want to see a change to the justice system called Bailey’s Law introduced.

“It will protect lives,” said Henderson.

“We don’t want to see anyone else go through what our family is going through.”

The proposed reform includes GPS monitoring and a provincial registry of convicted domestic offenders.

They are also advocating for presumptive first-degree murder charges for domestic homicide committed by an accused with a history of domestic violence, along with risk assessment tools and judicial education regarding those likely to reoffend.

In addition, they also want to see stricter domestic violence bail laws.

“This is what Bailey would want. We need to keep people like her sisters and daughters safe in the future,” said Henderson, adding how a no contact order “just isn’t enough to keep people safe.”

The family have sent their plea to Prime Minister Mark Carney.

B.C.’s Attorney General Niki Sharma said she is reviewing the proposals, and has already pushed Ottawa for bail reform that addresses certain crimes that often escalate.

“I’ve asked for specific changes to the criminal code, related to the choking and suffocation, and those types of inter-partner violence that the evidence shows can lead to serious harm and death,” said Sharma.

McCourt’s family says the changes are critical to fix a broken justice system that has left two little girls without a mother, and a community desperate to find meaning in her senseless death.