The mother of a woman killed last week in Kelowna in a horrific and public attack, allegedly by her estranged partner, is speaking out.
Karen Fehr hopes that Bailey McCourt’s death could be a catalyst for change in how B.C. treats cases of intimate partner violence.
“She was happy; she was a go-getter. She loved everybody, she saw the best in everybody. She wanted everybody to be happy,” Fehr said of her daughter.
In the morning of July 4, McCourt’s ex-partner James Edward Plover was convicted of four charges, related to an incident that took place in 2024, including assault by choking.
Fehr tells 1130 NewsRadio that her daughter had been anxiously waiting all day to hear the verdict of Plover’s assault case.
“[Court workers] text her, letting her know that he had been found guilty on all counts, and that his [release] conditions stay in place, so that meant no contact, indirect or direct, and that he was ordered to do a full psychiatric evaluation,” Fehr explained.
“She probably felt great. She messaged me right away, she started messaging all her friends right away, happy that this was the verdict that had come down,” she added.
Just hours later, Plover is accused of brutally attacking McCourt and another woman, resulting in McCourt’s death, in a highly public event witnessed by many at a busy intersection. Plover is now facing a second-degree murder charge.
Fehr doesn’t understand why Plover remained out on bail under the previous 2024 release conditions after his conviction.
She believes Plover should have undergone the ordered psychiatric evaluation immediately and had his conditions revoked until the report was complete.
“If you’re going to decide whether or not he could have a bail hearing or maybe he’s okay to be on the street, that psych evaluation should have been done,” Fehr said. “[That] psych evaluation would have been able to say this man is not capable of walking the streets.”
Fehr believes the justice system did not protect McCourt.
“Our justice system sucks. They did everything they could. They put an order in place for him to have zero contact with her, no direct or indirect contact with her,” she explained. “They did what they’re allowed to do, but it’s not enough, and she knew it was not enough.”
Related:
Fehr is struggling to have hope that the justice system will change in light of McCourt’s killing.
“All my life, watching this happen to every lady out there, not just my daughter, I’ve always prayed for it to change and to help every daughter,” she said.
“Every single person out there, whether they’ve experienced this or they haven’t experienced this, they want it to change. These people shouldn’t be allowed to walk the street.
“Why was he walking the streets. What is it going to take to say that they are not okay to walk the streets?”
Plover was in court temporarily on Thursday for a procedural hearing. He was remanded in custody awaiting his next appearance scheduled for Sept. 16.
