Murder charge laid in Port Alberni homicide

The RCMP logo is seen outside the force's 'E' division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on March 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A man has been charged with murder following a homicide in a Port Alberni park two months ago, Mounties announced Monday.

Police provided few details about the incident at the time, only saying officers responded to a report of a found body in Dry Creek Park around 5:45 p.m. on June 16, and located a “deceased person with apparent injuries.”

In an update Monday, the Port Alberni RCMP said a suspect was arrested on Aug. 7 and formally charged with murder the following day.

The accused, William Shane Watts, remains in custody and is next due to appear in court on Aug. 22.

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to call the detachment at 250-723-2424.