A Sechelt man is dead and another one is in custody after a stabbing on Friday night, Aug. 28, on Sechelt Inlet Road.
RCMP have charged 35-year-old Phillip Joe Jr. with second-degree murder following the death of his brother Conrad Joe, 33.
Cpl. Dale Carr, media spokesperson for Integrated Homicide Investigative Team (IHIT), said Sunshine Coast RCMP responded to a 9-1-1 call around 10:45 p.m. and found Conrad suffering from stab wounds.
"Sunshine Coast RCMP and the members from Sechelt acted very swiftly and arrived at the home, dealt with the issue, arrested the male and then secured the scene awaiting homicide investigators," Carr said.
Conrad was transported to St. Mary's Hospital and was treated, but succumbed to his injuries.
Phillip made his first appearance in provincial court in Richmond on Monday. He is now being remanded until his arraignment hearing on Sept. 16, according to Crown counsel Marion West.
The investigation is now being handled by IHIT and the Lower Main-land District Forensic Identification Services.
Carr said the investigation is not over just because an arrest has been made.
"We'll have to speak to witnesses and friends and neighbours. There will be a lot more of that," he said.
The incident on Friday night stemmed from an alleged argument at a house party.
Conrad was previously convicted of manslaughter in February 1997 in the death of retired Sechelt doctor James Farish during a bungled 1995 robbery. Conrad was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Sechelt Mayor Darren Inkster said the incident is not an indication of Sechelt as a whole.
"From what I can tell, this is very much an isolated incident and my condolences go out to the Sechelt Indian Band because they are a close-knit community and events like that will affect their whole community," Inkster said. "I still believe that the community is a safe place for not only all the people who have come to retire here, but also for people to raise families here."
