A Montrose man accused of the first-degree murder of his estranged wife will stand trial this fall, shortly after the second anniversary of her death.
Donald James Danchella is accused of killing Lindsay Batts Danchella, 44.
According to the BC Prosecution Service, the trial will heard in Rossland before a Supreme Court judge and jury starting Nov. 9. It’s expected to continue for about three weeks.
Donald Danchella’s preliminary hearing took place in February. Such hearings are used to determine if there is enough evidence to send a case to trial.
Danchella, who was born in 1977, has been in custody since Nov. 4, 2024. On that day, police were called to a home in Montrose about a man assaulting a woman on the front lawn.
Lindsay was survived by her young son, her mother, sister, and other family. She was raised in Richmond and obtained a nursing degree and bachelor of science.
She moved to Montrose in 2018 and became the patient care co-ordinator of the surgical unit at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital. She was later community care co-ordinator for Trail home health services.
Two vigils have been held in her honour, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
