Former CFL player charged in cold-case murder investigation

VANCOUVER — A former wide receiver with the Canadian Football League’s B.C. Lions has made his first court appearance following a charge of seconddegree murder more than nine years after a woman’s death.

Joshua Boden’s lawyer said outside provincial court Monday his client intends to plead not guilty in connection with the death of 33-year-old Kimberly Hallgarth, whose body was found in a Burnaby, B.C., home in March 2009.

Police called her injuries suspicious.

Lawyer Kevin Westell would not comment on his client’s reaction to the charge coming so long after Hallgarth was discov- ered dead.

“All I’m prepared to say is that these allegations have been out in the media the entirety of that time,” Westell said. “Mr. Boden has been unwavering in his denial of his guilt in this matter and he maintains that opposition.”

Westell said he and his cocounsel have not yet received disclosure from the Crown and will review the material before Boden is expected back in court Dec. 10.

Boden was arrested Friday and will remain in custody. Westell would not say if he will apply for bail.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced the charge against Boden a few hours before he appeared in court on Monday.

Insp. Dave Chauhan, the acting officer in charge of the homicide team, said “excellent foundational work” was done by the original investigators and a review by a cold-case team led to the approval of charges by B.C.’s prosecution service.

“I realize that the past nine years have been very difficult on Kim’s family and my deepest condolences go out to them,” Chauhan said, adding he thanks the woman’s relatives for their patience. “For us to arrive at today’s outcome, it took a great deal of tenacity for all investigators involved, both past and present.”