Murder charge stayed for man accused in 2025 beating death at Notre Dame Drive bus shelter

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

Monday (April 20), BCPS spokesperson Damienne Darby confirmed the service directed a stay of proceedings in the matter on March 27.

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 WAYS TO HEAL: What we cannot see

Apr 20, 2026

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: April 20, 2026

Apr 20, 2026

Question of the Week

Do you support the two AAPs launched by the City of Kamloops Monday?

Apr 20, 2026

“I can say that the decision to stay the charge in this case was made due to a material change in circumstances that meant the charge assessment standard was no longer met,” said Darby, in an email to CFJC Today.

At the time of Hopkins-Jones’ arrest, Kamloops RCMP expressed confidence they had arrested the right man.

“This investigation was well supported from the initial call, which started with our frontline officers, Forensic Identification Services, General Investigation Services Team and the Serious Crime Unit,” Kamloops RCMP Supt. Jeff Pelley said in a statement released on October 10, 2025. “Our team has worked diligently over the course of this investigation to gather evidence and follow-up on investigative material.”

Hopkins-Jones was facing a parallel set of charges related to an incident that took place just two days after the attack on Pinette – assaulting a peace officer, breach of a probation order and breach of a release order.

On April 15, BCPS entered a stay on the first and third counts, with a guilty finding rendered on the charge Hopkins-Jones breached a probation order.

Darby says Hopkins-Jones was sentenced to time served, taking into account his 60 days of pre-sentence custody, credited at time-and-a-half.