British Columbia

Man pleads guilty to murdering Belgian hitchhiker in B.C.

Sean McKenzie, the man charged with killing a Belgian tourist in B.C. in August 2018, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He had been charged with the first-degree murder of Amelie Sakkalis, 28. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 19.

Sean McKenzie to be sentenced Nov. 19 for 2nd-degree murder of Amelie Sakkalis

Sean McKenzie was arrested in September 2018 and charged with the murder of Amelie Sakkalis, 28. (IHIT)

The man charged with killing a Belgian tourist in B.C. has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. 

Sean McKenzie, 27, was arrested in September 2018 and charged with the first-degree murder of Amelie Sakkalis, 28.

Sakkalis was found dead on Aug. 22, 2018, north of Boston Bar, B.C. She had been hitchhiking from Penticton to Vancouver.

"Amelie's murder was a shock to the community and even for our seasoned investigators," said Sgt. Frank Jang of B.C.'s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

McKenzie entered his guilty plea on Sept. 23, 2019. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 19.

The day before her body was found, Sakkalis posted a message on Facebook in French, looking for a ride.