Teichrieb to face trial by jury, Simpson recovering after surgery

Jan 25, 2017 | 2:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — The accused in the brutal beating of young Jessie Simpson in June 2016 is going to trial.

The fate of 39-year-old Kristopher Teichrieb, who faces a charge of attempted murder after allegedly beat Simpson with a baseball bat, will be determined by a jury. On Wednesday, the preliminary trial wrapped up on day one at Kamloops Court, and while a trial date hasn’t been set, the announcement of a trial is a relief to Simpson’s family and friends.

“It just gives that many more people a chance to do right by Jessie,” says family friend Christina Forde. “To give him the justice I think he deserves.”

It’s been a grueling last seven months for Simpson since he was allegedly beaten at the corner of Holt Street and Clifford Avenue in the early morning hours of June 19, 2016. 

Simpson has been in a medically-induced coma since the incident, but some good news coming on Tuesday with Jessie receiving surgery on his skull. 

“He just had his big surgery he’s been waiting for, so he’s got a few really critical days ahead of him,” says Forde. 

The big concern at this point for Jessie and the family is infection following the surgery.

“A risk of infection now is very high,” says Forde. “So if he was to get an infection right now, his body probably wouldn’t be able to fight it because his immunity has been dropped so low to have this skull surgery.”

There’s still a long road to recovery for Simpson, but these are steps in the right direction, and the family feels the same way about the upcoming trial.

A date for the trial will be set on February 27 at B.C. Supreme Court in Kamloops.