Stefanski chooses jury

Vitali Stefanski has elected to be tried before a judge and jury.

Vitali Stefanski is charged with second degree murder in the death of his ex-wife, Tatjana Stefanski. She was reported missing from her Lumby home on April 14 and her body was found the next day.

On May 31, Mounties announced Stefanski had been arrested and charged.

Stefanski was originally meant to appear in Vernon provincial court Wednesday morning to elect the mode of his trial, but the Crown prosecutor on the matter was away. Damienne Darby with the BC Prosecution Service said the matter was adjourned to Nov. 6 without an election recorded, but it was recalled later the same day.

“Your query prompted me to flag for one of the trial Crown that the election hadn’t been recorded yet (even though there has been some discussion on the record about this),” said Darby in an email.

“The Crown recalled the matter this afternoon and the accused formally entered his election for trial before a Supreme Court judge and jury, with a preliminary inquiry.”

Stefanski will be back in court Nov. 6 to fix a date.