Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.
A Kelowna, B.C., man accused of killing his estranged wife in July has been sentenced to 12 months in jail on unrelated charges of uttering threats and assault by strangling.
James Plover, 33, appeared virtually for the sentencing hearing on Thursday from the facility where he is being held in custody.
The charges stem from a 2024 assault which a provincial court judge said left a “profound psychological and emotional impact” on the victims, whose identities are protected under a publication ban.
Judge David Ruse handed Plover a 12-month sentence for the assault by strangling charge, and six months on three counts of uttering threats. He ordered the sentences to be served concurrently, rejecting a Crown request for consecutive sentences. Ruse awarded Plover 218 days enhanced credit for time already spent in custody, leaving him with 147 days to serve.
‘Highly visible and tragic’ hit-and-run and assault
Plover was convicted of the charges on July 4, 2025, and was out on bail awaiting sentencing when he is alleged to have attacked his estranged wife, Bailey McCourt.
A crime scene in Kelowna, B.C, July 4, 2025, which resulted in Bailey McCourt’s death. James Edward Plover is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the incident. (Brady Strachan/CBC)
Later that afternoon, Plover was arrested in Lake Country, B.C., in connection with what RCMP described as a “highly visible and tragic” hit-and-run and assault with a weapon in a Kelowna parking lot.
McCourt was taken to hospital and later died of her injuries. Another woman who was with her during the attack sustained serious injuries and was later released from hospital.
Charge upgraded to 1st-degree murder
Plover was initially charged with second-degree murder. Earlier this month, the Crown upgraded the charge to first-degree murder and also charged him with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle resulting in bodily harm.
Bailey Plover, the mother of two children, was killed in Kelowna, B.C., on July 4 in what police called a ‘highly visible and tragic event.’ (Submitted by Morey Maslak)
The case has drawn widespread attention in Kelowna and across B.C., prompting calls from family, friends and politicians for bail reform and stronger responses to intimate partner violence.
Advocates have held rallies in front of the Kelowna courthouse and at the B.C. Legislature in Victoria.
Advocates seek stronger response for involving intimate partner violence crimes
In October, Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola MP Frank Caputo introduced Bill C-225, also known as Bailey’s Law, a private member’s bill that would make changes to the legal response to intimate partner violence, including treating the murder of an intimate partner as first-degree murder and empowering courts to detain a person charged with domestic assault for a risk assessment.
In July, McCourt’s family wrote a letter outlining similar policy recommendations related to domestic violence in Canada, which B.C. Premier David Eby delivered to Prime Minister Mark Carney.
McCourt’s mother, Karen Fehr, spoke to reporters after Thursday’s sentencing hearing.
“It definitely doesn’t feel like enough, because I am looking at her [alleged] murderer,” Fehr said.
“I raised my child. I brought her into this world. I loved her more than anything in this world.”
Plover will remain in custody ahead of his first-degree murder charge. His next court date in that matter is scheduled for mid-January.