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Trial set for man accused in bizarre Chilliwack River Valley shooting

Peter Anthony Kampos also suspected in as many as 22 other shootings at trucks in the Interior
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Police turn back traffic at the Borden Creek bridge in the Chilliwack River Valley on March 25, 2017 after a bizarre string of shootings culminating in an arrest of Peter Anthony Kampos. (Greg Laychak/ Black Press)

A bail hearing and trial dates were set Tuesday for a man charged in a bizarre string of shootings in March that ended in the Chilliwack River Valley and left one man in hospital.

Peter Anthony Kampos remains in custody at the Surrey Pre-Trial Centre and appeared via video in BC Supreme Court in Chilliwack.

Kampos faces one count of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm without a licence, and is also the suspect in a series of shootings at commercial trucks over a 14-hour period in along highways between 100 Mile House and Prince George before the March 25 incident in the river valley.

A 39-year-old Chilliwack man was airlifted to hospital on March 25 after being shot while in his vehicle near the Ford Mountain Forest Road. He was able to elude his attacker, eventually seeking help and medical aid from army personnel who were training nearby.

Kampos has been in custody since that incident, and a previous bail hearing never happened.

READ MORE: Bail hearing set for Chilliwack River Valley shooting suspect

During numerous video appearances the 38-year-old has always been calm and coherent, but expressed issues with contacting lawyers, and even confusion over being charged with attempted murder.

“Why is there no warrant for the attempted murder?” Kampos asked the court during his video appearance on Oct. 10, to which his lawyer Mark Swartz responded that he would explain it to him later.

Swartz and Crown Andrea Ormiston informed the court they had arranged for a one-day bail hearing for Nov. 6 and trial dates were discussed.

While the court had dates available as soon as the spring, and Crown was willing to take them, the trial will have to wait a year because of defence availability. A 14-day jury trial is set for Oct. 9, 2018 preceded by jury selection on Oct. 1 and a pre-trial conference on Feb. 2.

In the spring, police were investigating a series of vehicle shootings that spanned a 14-hour period, beginning March 24 at 1 p.m. Police received 22 reports of commercial trucks believed to have been shot and one report involving a passenger vehicle.

“We are asking those who may have travelled Highway 37 on March 24 between Kitimat and Terrace, Highway 16 between Terrace and Prince George as well as Highway 97 from Prince George to 100 Mile House to carefully examine their vehicle for suspicious damage,” RCMP spokesperson S/Sgt. Annie Linteau said in April. “We are asking anyone who may have been the victim of a suspicious incident allegedly involving Mr. Kampos or the vehicle he was driving to contact their local detachment.”


@PeeJayAitch
paul.henderson@theprogress.com

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