Kevin Costin, 57, charged with murder, arson, and indecency to a dead body
A Kelowna man charged with the death of his wife appeared in court again Thursday morning.
57-year-old Kevin Costin was arrested in May of 2017, following an 18-month police investigation that began in November of 2015, when emergency crews responded to a fire on Boucherie Road in West Kelowna. It was there that they discovered the body of Costin’s wife, 37-year-old Hazel Budiongan. The fire, as well as Budiongan’s death, were deemed suspicious by investigators.
During his arrest, Costin was formally charged with second degree murder, arson, and indignity to a dead body. He has remained in police custody since his arrest. Costin stared blankly ahead throughout his court appearance on Thursday.
The preliminary inquiry, which will determine whether or not there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial, is expected to last several days. 17 witnesses, including firefighters and RCMP officers who responded to the fire in 2015, will be giving their testimonies.
The evidence presented during the preliminary inquiry is protected under a publication ban.
