Accused ordered to stand trial on murder charges in death of Ashley Simpson

Photo: Contributed

The man charged in the death of Ashley Simpson has been ordered to stand trial on second-degree murder charges.

A preliminary hearing concluded in Salmon Arm court on Thursday, and Derek Favell was ordered to stand trial, Dan McLaughlin, communications counsel for the BC Prosecution Service confirms.

The case was adjourned to Dec. 5 to fix a trial date.

In December of last year, Favell was charged in the death – five years after Simpson's disappearance.

Her remains were found in a wilderness area outside Salmon Arm.

Tips in the case led police to the scene on Nov. 26, 2021.

Simpson, 31, lived in the Yankee Flats area near Silver Creek. She was reported missing in April 2016.

Favell, 39, was Simpson's boyfriend at the time of her disappearance.

RCMP said after the discovery of Ashley's remains that they do not believe her death is related to other missing women cases in the North Okanagan-Shuswap.

Favell had been a primary suspect from the beginning, police said.

Favell's bail was denied in May, and he has been held in custody since.