Non-violent, forgiving and even tempered were all characteristics Flora Balducci agreed with defence counsel that describe her brother John Ike Koopmans.
Koopmans is charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in relation to a 2013 Princeton triple-shooting.
Flora Balducci took the stand in Penticton Supreme Court Monday locking eyes briefly with her brother before testifying.
Balducci saw Koopmans in the time frame between the alleged break and enter on his property and the alleged shooting.
The Crown has previously put forward the suggestion that Koopmans blamed Keith Wharton, one of the people found dead on the Old Hedley Road property in 2013, for his involvement in the break and enter and that this was part of his motive for the alleged shooting.
Balducci said they were visiting with their parents in Langley and that they “had a really good time” playing pool and that Koopmans showed no signs of frustration or harboured anger over the break in.
Balducci was asked by defence counsel about an incident involving a past sexual offence committed to Koopmans’ daughter and whether or not he exhibited forgiveness.
“He was upset about the incident, as we all were,” Balducci said, adding that he “showed forgiveness” in that instance.
Defence counsel Don Skogstad also questioned Balducci on Koopmans character. He asked about a story involving quail eggs on a job site Koopmans previously worked at. Balducci indicated that Koopmans “couldn’t bear the thought” of some quail eggs hatching and being left to die on the site, saying that Koopmans brought the eggs home to look after them.
During cross examination the Crown asked whether Balducci would be surprised to know that Koopmans had a gun hidden in the rafters of his home.
This is in reference to the .357 magnum Koopmans said he had at one point owned, and since cut up because it was an unregistered firearm.
“Yes it would surprise me,” Balducci said.
The defence expects to call their final witness on Tuesday. However, with closing arguments and deliberations yet to come, the trial will enter into next week.
