A B.C. man who was previously cleared of the murder of a woman from Dawson Creek, B.C., is now facing a review of his case by a panel of federal judges in Mexico. The victim, 23-year-old Kiara Agnew, was discovered deceased in a laundry facility at a resort in Playa del Carmen, located south of Cancún, on March 3, 2023. The man, identified as Ryan Friesen, was arrested shortly after Agnew’s death and charged with her killing. However, in September 2024, Friesen was acquitted of the charges and permitted to return to Canada.
Following an appeal, the ruling in Friesen’s favor was reversed by an appellate judge in Mexico in December of the previous year. Friesen’s attorney, Denise Brunsdon, mentioned that he maintains his innocence and is currently appealing the decision. The case is now scheduled for review by a panel comprising three federal judges. Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the overturning of the verdict but refrained from providing additional details.
According to Guillermo Cruz-Rico, a Toronto-based lawyer specializing in Mexican and Canadian law, Mexico operates under a civil law system, distinct from Canada’s common law system, with differing legal structures. Each state in Mexico maintains its criminal code alongside a federal criminal code. Friesen’s legal proceedings initially took place at the state level in Quintana Roo but are now under federal appeal.
Foreign nationals in Mexico are entitled to constitutional rights, including due process in criminal cases. If a state-level verdict is overturned, the accused can request an appeal reviewed by a three-person panel at the federal court level. It remains uncertain whether Friesen will need to return to Mexico for the review process. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was contacted for potential law enforcement actions following the verdict reversal, but no response has been received as of now.
Cruz-Rico emphasized that since the alleged offense occurred in Mexico, Global Affairs Canada’s jurisdiction is limited to offering consular services to the accused. Any extradition decisions would involve international cooperation.
