Prosecutors have charged a man with murder after a body was found in shallow water near the bridge connecting Kelowna and West Kelowna, B.C., last week.
RCMP were called to the West Kelowna end of the William R. Bennett Bridge on July 29, after someone discovered the body of a man near the base of the bridge around 1:00 PM PT.
On Tuesday, police confirmed that a suspect had been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the victim’s death. A statement said Wyne Zablan, 25, will be held in custody until his next court appearance on August 29.
The victim has been identified, but police said his name will not be released until his family has been notified of his death. A statement last week described the victim as an Asian man in his 20s to 40s.
Police believe the men knew each other, but did not say how.
“It is clear that Mr. Zablan and the victim knew each other and we believe there is no risk to the public,” wrote Insp. Brent Novakoski, the Senior Investigating Officer of the RCMP’s Southeast District Major Crimes Unit.
Anyone who was in the area on July 29 and saw a man matching the victim’s description is asked to contact police.