Former Kamloops RCMP officer describes gruesome injuries as civil trial begins in baseball bat beating

KAMLOOPS — Four-and-a-half years after Jessie Simpson was beaten with a baseball bat in Brocklehurst, the family is formally seeking compensation through a civil trial that started on Tuesday (Jan. 12).

In the early morning hours of June 19, 2016, Simpson, who was 18 years old at the time, was on his way home from a graduation party. While walking home, he stumbled through Kristopher Teichrieb’s yard at the corner of Holt Street and Clifford Avenue. Teichrieb, who had experienced thefts in the neighbourhood, then chased Simpson down and brutally assaulted him, leaving him with life-altering brain injuries.

Teichrieb was found civilly liable for the attack last year. On the first day of civil testimony to determine damages, former Kamloops RCMP officer Grant Bernier described the gruesome state Simpson was in when Bernier arrived on scene. In 14 years of police work, it was the worst he’d seen.

“He was not responsive to anything. He was just laying there, struggling to breathe — short, laboured breaths. It was quite vivid because it was just gross. Frothing blood bubbling out of his mouth. His eyes were rolled back in his head,” said Bernier while on the stand. “It was one of those ones that’s scarred in your head.”

Bernier remembers pulling up to the scene as a shirtless Teichrieb straddled Simpson on the street.

“As I get out of the car, he starts waving at me. I’d describe him like an excited dog, saying ‘Hey, I got him! I got him!’” he noted. “As I come closer, I can see blood and stuff everywhere. The guy on the ground [Simpson] is not really moving. I can also see a bat off to the side.”

Jessie Simpson’s mom Susan also took the stand, tearing up at times as she spoke about Jessie getting a full-time job after graduation, writing up his resume two days before the attack.

Jessie, now 23 years old, is being cared for 24-hours-a-day by staff at The Hamlets. It’s care needed for the rest of his life.

“Jessie’s been affected, and ourselves, and our family for the rest of our lives. To see Jessie like this daily. There were a lot of pictures brought up today before Jessie’s accident — if you want to call it an accident — it’s hard,” said Susan following her testimony on Tuesday. “It’s hard to see that he’ll never ski again, he’ll never skateboard, he’ll never walk again. It’s very hard.”

The Simpsons are seeking in the millions of dollars in damages for pain and suffering, loss of income for both Jessie and Susan, and cost of his care among other considerations.

Court heard that Susan has worked on and off during the last four years with income dropping almost every year from $33,000 in 2015 to $7,400 in 2019. She worked with the Skeetchestn Indian Band before being fired in 2018, as she had to care for Jessie.

“It’s been very hard. Jessie seems to get sick every time something comes along for me for work. Jessie’s my Number One priority and always will be,” she said.

Susan’s main focus through this civil trial is ensuring her son has the resources to be cared for.

“Justice for Jessie. It’s always been justice for him,” she said. “It’s nice for Jessie. I’m not always going to be here to care for him, so if we can fight for whatever we can for him, it’ll help — if anything comes of it.”

Teichrieb pleaded guilty to criminal charges in 2018.

The civil trial is expected to wrap up on Wednesday.