Merritt man accused of murdering his wife going straight to trial

The case of a Merritt man who is facing a second-degree murder charge will skip a preliminary inquiry and proceed directly to trial.

Christopher Jarvis is accused of murdering his wife, Pamela Jarvis, inside their Merritt home on Dec. 16 last year. At the time, police said the mother of six was found with serious injuries and rushed to Nicola Valley Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

“The suspect fled the residence prior to police arrival but was subsequently located and arrested and he remains in custody,” the RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit said in a statement at the time.

Christopher Jarvis’ next appearance is scheduled for Monday (Nov. 9) in B.C. Supreme Court in Kamloops. He was denied bail in July, and more specific details about this case are protected by a publication ban.

In December last year, B.C.’s police watchdog also announced it was investigating whether actions or inaction of Merritt RCMP played a part in Pam’s death. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO BC) launched its investigation after it received information from a community agency.