A 44-year-old Langford man has been charged with first degree murder relating to the death of Gordon Berg, who was found dead at his Mill Hill home Monday night.
Joseph Knelsen made his first appearance in Western Communities Courthouse Wednesday morning on the murder charge. Police expect to recommend more charges in upcoming days or weeks.
Knelsen, with scruffy, receding brown hair, betrayed little emotion on his face during the short hearing. His next appearance is March 16 in Supreme Court in Victoria. He was remanded to the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre.
The RCMP Island District tactical troop officers conducted a grid search Wednesday around the home at 2557 Jeanine Dr., where police found Berg, 53, deceased in his main-floor suite around 11 p.m. Monday.
As of Wednesday, forensic investigators remained in the home, conducting a methodical search.
Police have released little on the sequence of events or the relationship between the two men, other than that they were known to each other.
Two women, who are also known to the men, were also at the house Monday evening and are police witnesses, although it remains unclear what they saw.
B次元官网网址淭he women are under our care, they are co-operating,B次元官网网址� said Cpl. Darren Lagan with Island District RCMP. B次元官网网址淚t was a very traumatic situation.B次元官网网址�
Police have called in the Greater Victoria Victim Services counsellors for the two women.
Police investigators quickly learned the identity of the suspect Monday night. Early Tuesday morning, RCMP major crimes investigators and West Shore RCMP officers arrested Knelsen without incident near Western Speedway.
B次元官网网址淭his was not a random incident,B次元官网网址� Lagan said. B次元官网网址淎s to why this happened, weB次元官网网址檝e got to answer those questions.B次元官网网址�
Lagan confirmed a weapon was involved, but investigators are not releasing details. RCMP investigators entered the house with a search warrant midday Tuesday.
Two investigators canvassed neighbouring houses Tuesday morning, and by midday, a handful of forensic investigators clad in white jumpsuits were in the house.
Neighbours on Jeanine Drive were shocked to hear news of a murder on their quiet residential street. Peter Scheeren, who lives across the street, said in his 33 years living on Jeanine Drive heB次元官网网址檚 never seen a police car.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes you wish they (police) would come around, but they donB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� he said, noting that heB次元官网网址檇 seen and heard large, noisy gatherings across the road.
Neighbour Jane Frankson, a 32 year resident on the street, said she didnB次元官网网址檛 hear any commotion at the house until B次元官网网址渓ights and sirens woke us up.B次元官网网址� She doesnB次元官网网址檛 know her next door neighbours and trees and a rock obscures the sight lines, but she said cars come and go from the property.
Another neighbour who lives next-door said she remembers seeing police at the property around Christmas. But like other neighbours, she didnB次元官网网址檛 know the deceased man.
B次元官网网址淲e keep to ourselves up here,B次元官网网址� said a next-door neighbour, who didnB次元官网网址檛 want her name printed. B次元官网网址淚 hear gun shots sometimes, but ignore them. TheyB次元官网网址檙e usually just people shooting at deer in the back.B次元官网网址�
Officers with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit are leading the investigation, assisted by West Shore RCMP members and the RCMP police dog service.
Lagan said West Shore RCMP officers have visited the home periodically, and that the four people involved are B次元官网网址渒nown, but not well known by police.B次元官网网址�
The 44-year-old suspect was not known to police for violence. Over the past three years, Berg has been convicted several times of theft under $5,000, and once on possession of stolen property and a charge related to using a forged document.
The B.C. Coroners Service performed an autopsy on Berg on Wednesday. The time of his death has non been released by police.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
B次元官网网址攚ith files from Sam Van Schie and Charla Huber
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
