POLICE – Two charged in perjury investigation arising from 2019 manslaughter trial

An investigation that began after a Kamloops manslaughter trial in 2019 has resulted in perjury charges for a man and woman.

On Wednesday (Aug. 9, 2023), the B.C. Prosecution Service approved and requested warrants for 33-year-old James David Bond, and 42-year-old Sara Anne Hupe, who each face one count of perjury.

RCMP said today (Aug. 10, 2023) the charges date back to allegations brought forth to investigators in the spring of 2019, and relate to a manslaughter trial into the 2016 death of a Kamloops man.

Sean Dunn, 42, died after an altercation outside The Duchess on Tranquille Road in December 2016. Bond, who admitted to punching Dunn, was found not guilty of manslaughter in a March, 2019 trial.

“The recommendations to proceed with perjury charges followed a lengthy investigation led by our Serious Crime Unit, and relate to accusations involving the intent to mislead justice,” said Supt. Jeff Pelley, Kamloops RCMP detachment’s officer in charge.

“The charge is not one we see commonly put forth and was the result of the hard work and efforts of our Kamloops team.”

The accused were located and arrested soon after, he said.

“Thanks to the assistance of our police partners on Vancouver Island, both warrants were quickly executed and the investigation will now continue to proceed through the court process,” said Sgt. Nestor Baird of the Serious Crime Unit.