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Guilty plea in motel murder

Richard Vallee pleads guilty to manslaughter in the death of Kenneth Paquette

The 43-year-old man charged with second-degree murder in the death of a local First Nations artist has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Richard Vallee admitted to the lesser offence in Chilliwack Supreme Court last Wednesday.

Sixty-seven-year-old Kenneth Paquette was found badly beaten on May 27, 2011 by Hope RCMP when they were called to an assault at the Thunderbird Motel on Flood Hope Road.

Paquette was rushed to hospital, but succumbed to his injuries several hours later.

“It’s unacceptable to get away with such a blatant act of violence," said Sgt. Jennifer Pound, with the RCMP Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. "A guilty plea in this tragic death marks another display of the dedication brought forward by the IHIT investigators. Justice will be sought for those responsible in taking a life.”

According to provincial court records, Vallee has a long criminal record, including convictions for theft and mischief.

He will be sentenced on April 24 in Chilliwack Supreme Court.