Murder suspect to stand trial

A man accused of murdering his girlfriend has been ordered to stand trial after a preliminary inquiry in Salmon Arm court.

Derek Favell, 40. is charged with the second degree murder of Ashley Simpson who was 32 when she went missing in April 2016.

A tip to police led to her remains being found in a wooded area outside Salmon Arm in November 2021.

Favell, who was Simpson’s boyfriend at the time of her disappearance, was arrested and charged about a week after her body was discovered.

The preliminary inquiry reviewed Crown evidence in the case to determine if there was sufficient evidence for a Supreme Court trial.

Favell will return to court Dec. 5 to fix a date for a trial.