UPDATE 3 p.m.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Ka-Mikosit Mae Favelle after she failed to return to the Kelowna courthouse for her sentencing hearing on Jan. 23.
Defence lawyer Paul McMurray returned at 2 p.m. without his client, telling the court Favelle was rushed to Kelowna General Hospital over the lunch break following a suspected overdose.
Justice Murray issued the warrant under section 512.3 of the Criminal Code which states a warrant can be issued if there are reasonable grounds to believe, “an accused has contravened or is about to contravene any summons, appearance notice, undertaking or release order that was issued or given to the accused or entered into by the accused or has committed an indictable offence while being subject to any summons, appearance notice, undertaking or release order.”
Favelle is to be taken into custody and not released until she appears before Justice Murray, the court heard.
McMurray also told the court that he believes the Crown will be bringing forth evidence related to an alleged altercation between Favelle and the victim’s family ahead of Friday’s court proceedings, noting that without Favelle present, he was not in a position to proceed on that matter. McMurray was not present at the reported altercation.
The Justice concluded with an apology to those sitting in the gallery.
“I can tell you I wouldn’t have been in a position to sentence Ms Favelle today in any event,” Justice Murray said. “I’m sorry to keep this alive. I know this is causing you all a lot of strain, and it’s a huge weight to carry.”
Family and friends of the victim, Adam Briand-Lawrence, gathered outside the courthouse after the court adjourned. Briand-Lawrence’s sister, Stephanie Lawrence, said they are shocked. “I don’t understand why nobody was monitoring her… How did she get the drugs?”
Favelle is expected to appear before Justice Murray at a later date.
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A Kelowna woman who struck and killed her ex-partner with a vehicle in 2022 could see more than seven years behind bars.
“I’m considering a higher sentence than the Crown has asked me to consider,” stated Justice Murray at the conclusion of the defence’s arguments on Friday, Jan. 23.
Ka-Mikosit Mae Favelle was in Kelowna Supreme Court for day two of her sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to manslaughter in relation to the death of her ex-partner, Adam Briand-Lawrence, on Aug. 19, 2022.
Crown counsellor Jordan Schroeder requested a seven-year sentence for Favelle. Crown argued that Favelle is an “unreliable historian” with inconsistencies in her stories and cited multiple breaches of her bail order. Favelle breached orders not consume drugs or alcohol, to answer the door for an officer doing a curfew check, and to obtain permission before leaving her home while on house arrest, which was breached as recently as Jan. 2.
Defence lawyer Paul McMurray countered with the request for a conditional sentence of two years less one day, followed by three years’ probation. He argued that the only purpose jail would serve in the case of Favelle is denunciation and deterrence, but it would not offer proper support for rehabilitation.
“I was coming here expecting to be disappointed in the justice system,” the victim’s sister, Stephanie Lawrence, said to the media after hearing the Justice is considering a higher sentence. “It has brought us a lot of joy to hear that the judge is really taking matters seriously.”
Stephanie added that the family was disappointed when Favelle pleaded guilty to manslaughter in July 2025, and the case wasn’t moving forward to trial.
Court resumes at 2 p.m. when Crown will present a rebuttal to the defence’s arguments.
Favelle was driving along Horizon Drive in West Kelowna on the day of the incident, with Briand-Lawrence as a passenger. The couple, who the court heard had been together since February of that year, started to argue, and the victim exited the vehicle. Both parties were said to have alcohol and drugs in their system at the time.
The court heard that Favelle continued along Horizon Drive before making a U-turn and accelerating toward the victim at about 95 kilometres per hour. As Favelle drove toward the victim, she turned the wheel two seconds prior to reaching Briand-Lawrence but failed to maneuver the car, ultimately striking and killing the victim. Briand-Lawrence was 35 years old at the time of his death.
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