Frederick Paul Charlie acquitted in Seabird Island murder case

Frederick Paul Charlie was found not guilty of second‑degree murder in the death of 33‑year‑old Vanessa Terry, whose body was discovered on Seabird Island on 6 April 2024. Charlie had been arrested in late June 2024 and faced three custodial statements that the British Columbia Supreme Court later ruled inadmissible after he claimed violations of his Charter rights. Justice Palbinder Shergill criticized police conduct, noting that Charlie was forced to change clothes in the presence of officers despite not wearing underwear, was held in a cold, damp cell with an undercover officer who urinated nearby, and was denied adequate sleep while undergoing multiple interviews. The court concluded the conditions were intended to elicit a confession and that the statements could not be relied upon. The acquittal was reported on 4 August 2026.