Murder charges stayed in 2006 killing of woman in Port Alberni
Not enough evidence, prosecutors say, after Surrey man charged in 2015
Murder charges have been stayed against a man arrested in connection with the 2006 killing of a Port Alberni woman.
Larry Darling, a 51-year-old Surrey man, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in September 2015, nine years after the death of Kristy Morrey.
Dan McLaughlin, spokesman for the B.C. Prosecution Service, said prosecutors made the decision to stay the charges after receiving additional information.
“After reviewing this information and the rest of the file materials, the prosecutors concluded the charge approval standard could no longer be met,” he said.
The charge approval standard means that there must be enough evidence to support a substantial likelihood of conviction.
Darling formerly lived in Port Alberni and dated Morrey up until a month before her death.
Port Alberni RCMP found Morrey dead in her bedroom on Aug. 20, 2006. Police initially believed the 28-year-old died of natural causes. A year later, they announced the case was a homicide. The cause of death has not been released.
Morrey had worked the previous day at Gone Fishin’, a fishing and outdoors store, then attended a wedding reception at a local hall. Friends accompanied her home, spent some time with her, and left in the early-morning hours of Aug. 20.
Police were alerted after Morrey’s friend couldn’t reach her by phone later in the morning.
When charges were announced against Darling in September 2015, Morrey’s cousin, Jaclyn, issued a statement at a news conference that read: “Today we stand before you strong, knowing that someone has been arrested. Our initial reaction was shock, relief and, with a heavy heart, betrayal. We hope that we will eventually be able to find peace.”
Jacyln described Morrey as someone with a “zest for life” who was most happy outdoors.
The RCMP said it has no comment on the decision to stay charges.