Matthew Foerster has admitted that he caused the injuries that killed Taylor Van Diest Halloween night 2011.
Crown Counsel Iain Currie submitted an agreed statement of defence to the court from lawyer Lisa Jean Helps as day two of Foerster’s murder trial got underway in a Kelowna courtroom.
The jury will now only have to decide on whether Foerster, 28, was capable of forming the intent for murder.
Taylor’s mother, Marie Van Diest said the admission wasn’t surprising, however, it was welcome.
“This is good news for a lot of people,” she said to reporters later in the day.
The trial continued after the morning revelation, and the jury heard testimony from RCMP Cpl. Trevor Cook, who specializes in forensic identification.
He was key to two aspects of the investigation, having catalogued evidence collected from both where Van Diest was found Nov. 1, 2011 and a truck that was seized the following April.
In a video that showed the rural atmosphere Van Diest was found, Cook highlighted blood evidence as well as several items found around the scene.
Two jackets, one of Const. Milan Ilic and a plaid jacket, were shown. Spots of blood were found in the trees around where Van Diest lay as well as on the ground.
In the F150, blood evidence was found behind the passenger seat of the car.
An afternoon admission related to that DNA evidence. Foerster’s defence has made the admission that the DNA found is his.
The trial is scheduled to continue throughout the week.
