Two words spoken to the wrong person landed a man in Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre overnight.
Harry Elias of Kamloops was in a family court proceeding on Monday when he allegedly told provincial court Judge Stella Frame to f-off during a heated family hearing, several people familiar with the matter said.
Frame then cited Elias for contempt of court and ordered he be held at Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre overnight.
Veteran lawyers at the courthouse said they鈥檝e never seen anyone jailed overnight for contempt of court, but had seen warnings from judges accompanied by a cooling-off period.
The incident came at the end of the day, however, giving no time for Elias to be brought back up after spending time in sheriff鈥檚 cells in the basement of the courthouse.
Elias was released Tuesday afternoon by provincial court Judge Chris Cleaveley.
Prosecutor Stephen Lawhead agreed that that the contempt charge and jailing is unusual.
鈥淭he process is complicated,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 happen very often.鈥�
Elias is scheduled to appear in front of Frame today, accompanied by defence lawyer Kevin Walker. Frame was in Merritt court all Tuesday and could not be in Kamloops.
鈥淢r. Elias is prepared to address the court,鈥� Walker said. 鈥淛udge Cleaveley decided it would be more appropriate in front of Judge Frame.鈥�
