As the victim’s family watched from the gallery, defence for a Kelowna man argued for a sentence of time served for an altercation that left one man dead in 2022.
Crown prosecution and defence for Matthew Reimer gave their submissions to the court on May 14.
Reimer pleaded guilty in September 2025 to aggravated assault, after he was originally charged with manslaughter, for the death of Chilliwack man Nicholas Epp on Aug. 12, 2022.
Epp’s mom and three brothers sat in the court room to listen to the sentencing. Epp’s wife Dorothy listened in remotely, unable to make the travel arrangements with the couple’s three children. While all four adults wrote victim impact statements for the court, Nicholas’s mom Sheree Epp was the only one who read her statement before Justice Wilson.
Sheree held a framed photo of Epp as she spoke, and often turned to speak to Reimer directly, who was seen wiping tears from his eyes while he listened.
“Being here today to face you is a huge part of my journey to come to some sort of peace with the sudden death of my son,” she said. “I truly believe I needed this, yet, this day too has caused more trauma.”
Crown prosecution requested a sentence of 36 to 48 months less time served. The prosecution acknowledged a number of mitigating factors, such as Reimer’s guilty plea and saving the Epp family from sitting through a trial, and that Reimer has not had any similar convictions since 2004.
In submissions from Reimer’s counsel, the court heard that Reimer has been in custody since July 24, 2025, or 296 days. Defence requested its client be sentenced to time served, an equivalent of 444 days, or 1.5 days for each day in custody ahead of sentencing.
Justice Wilson heard from defence that Reimer “is making every effort to rehabilitate himself,” including attending several programs while incarcerated, such as anger management, learning to talk and listen, employability, and communication skills.
After both sides finished submissions to the court, Reimer spoke.
“It is important for me to acknowledge the value of Nicholas’ life and express my honest remorse,” Reimer said to the court, adding that he takes full responsibility for his actions.
Justice Wilson adjourned court to review the submissions and will give his decision at a later, currently unscheduled date.
The death of Nicholas Epp
The court heard that Epp, his wife Dorothy, and some of their friends were visiting Kelowna and were enjoying a night downtown on Aug. 12, 2022. The group had entered the Liquid Zoo on Lawrence Avenue just before 10:30 p.m., however, due to intoxication Epp was refused service by staff shortly after and was escorted out the side door of the night establishment into an alley.
At the time, Reimer was standing near a food truck located at the end of the alley where it connected to Lawrence Avenue. Dorothy followed her husband into the alley.
Words were exchanged between Reimer and Dorothy while Epp crossed Lawrence Avenue to the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street from the food truck. Upon seeing Dorothy and Reimer speak briefly, Epp crossed the street again to confront Reimer.
The court was told that Reimer emptied his pockets and appeared ready to fight. Epp threw the first punch, which was said to not make any meaningful connection with Reimer, at which point his swing in return knocked Epp to the ground, striking the metal step of the food truck with his head as he fell.
The court heard that Reimer then proceeded to get on top of the fallen man, throw another two to four blows to the victim’s head, before getting up and leaving the are on foot.
Just after 11 p.m., RCMP officers were flagged down by witnesses and paramedics attempted to treat Epp on scene before he was transferred to Kelowna General Hospital.
Epp was declared dead in hospital at 11:56 p.m.
In the RCMP investigation that followed, police released photos of a person of interest who may have been involved with “homicide at the nightclub,” and asked for the public’s help in identifying the man in the surveillance image, on Aug. 15, 2022.
Reimer was arrested and charged with manslaughter almost one year later, Aug. 9, 2023.