A guilty plea issued by a high-risk sex offender accused of murdering a Princeton woman has been refused by the court.
Roger Badour, 64, admitted to Supreme Court Justice Robert Powers that he shot and killed Gisele Duckham and fled. Badour stated this at a Dec. 20 appearance in Kamloops and the plea was initially going to be accepted until Badour informed the court he wanted to get past the trial because he has cancer and believed he would get better medical treatment in federal prison. He has been in provincial jail since he was arrested on Nov. 8, 2011.
“At that time both Crown and the court had concerns that given some statements made in court by Mr. Badour. There were indications the plea was not completely voluntary on his part,” said Neil MacKenzie, spokesperson for the Crown. “Crown counsel did not want to see the accused enter a guilty plea where there is any suggestion that it was not completely free and voluntary and the judge was not prepared to accept a guilty plea in the circumstances.”
It is alleged that Badour killed Duckham at her residence in the 2000 block of Osprey Lake Road in Princeton. Victoria police had been searching for the high-risk sex offender for eight months after he disappeared while on parole as part of a seven-year sentence for sexual assault. On the evening of Nov. 8, 2011 Penticton RCMP pulled over a vehicle on Main Street for a traffic violation and after providing a false name the constable confirmed the identity of the driver as Badour. Upon further investigation the officer found three firearms — two of which were loaded — and a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle Badour was traveling in.
At his last appearance in Penticton court in September, 2012, Badour told the judge that he fears for his own life behind bars. His pleas to be moved from North Fraser pre-trial centre, because of various difficulties related to his health and issues with prison guards and other prisoners, were heard and he was moved to Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre. Badour’s lawyer, James Pennington, said his client alleged that he was threatened to be shanked by another inmate and had his leg stomped on by a guard.
Badour is expected to return to Kamloops court on Feb. 4 to fix a date at that time. Mackenzie said he does not know if Badour will again try and enter a guilty plea, but at this point the plea has not been accepted.
