Chatham-Kent Courthouse. March 1, 2016. (Photo by Simon Crouch) Chatham-Kent Courthouse. March 1, 2016. (Photo by Simon Crouch)
Chatham

Chatham Man Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter

A 55-year-old Chatham man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of his wife nearly 30 years ago.

George Jarvis was arrested in August 2015 and charged with murder -- two years after Chatham-Kent police re-opened the investigation in 2013 in conjunction with OPP.

According to police, Jarvis shot his wife Donna on November 12, 1987, but at that time, there wasn’t enough evidence to lay criminal charges.

His lawyer, Ken Marley, says Jarvis entered the guilty plea on Monday when he was scheduled to make a court appearance for a preliminary inquiry.

"Leading up to the preliminary hearing there had been discussions between myself and the crown attorney about the difficulties the crown was going to have in proving the appropriate degree of intent to prove the offense of murder," says Marley. "Ultimately, that's why there was an agreement to enter a plea of guilty to that lesser charge."

Marley says Jarvis will remain out on bail until his sentencing hearing on September 29, 2016.

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