South Okanagan man pleads guilty to murder of Belgian tourist
CHILLIWACK, B.C. – Homicide investigators say a man charged with first-degree murder of a Belgian tourist travelling through British Columbia has pleaded guilty to her slaying.
Sgt. Frank Jang says 28-year-old Sean McKenzie of Oliver, B.C., has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder of Amelie Sakkalis.
Police say he entered the plea during a court appearance Monday and his sentencing is expected on Nov. 19.
Her cause of death has never been revealed, but police said last year that they believed Sakkalis was hitchhiking from the Penticton area toward Vancouver on the day she was killed.
Sakkalis had been backpacking across Canada and her body was found near Highway 1, north of Boston Bar, on Aug. 22, 2018.
Jang says the murder was a shock to the community and to the seasoned officers who investigated the case.
Guilty plea in homicide of Amelie Sakkalis: 27yo Sean McKenzie has pleaded guilty to 2nd degree murder in connection with the death of 28yo Belgian tourist Amelie Sakkalis. Amelie's body was found on Aug22, 2018 around 7:45pm near Hwy1 north of Boston Bar. Sentencing on Nov19th. pic.twitter.com/3z9YNSbZ5i
— IHIT (@HomicideTeam) September 25, 2019
"A guilty plea speaks to the hard work and dedication of our investigators," he says in the statement from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.
This report by the Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2019.
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