Budget impact Federal financial plan expected to affect households. PAGE 15 Coastal living Cruise ship terminal building wins with wood design. PAGE 25 Gaining momentum Junior A hockey leagues promoting Westerns. PAGE 3
Green wall growing PAGE 7
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VOL. 23, NO. 144
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Bekkers cleared on all charges from fatal crash BY JENN McGARRIGLE THE NEWS BULLETIN
A Nanaimo mother was cleared Friday of impaired and dangerous driving charges stemming from a December 2008 crash. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Douglas Halfyard found Clare Bekkers not guilty of two counts of impaired driving causing death, two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm, two counts of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. “I’m just really glad it’s over,” said an emotional Bekkers. “I’d like to just go home.” The crash happened Dec. 22, 2008 at about 4:20 p.m. in the southbound lane of the Island Highway near the Cassidy Inn. Bekkers crossed the centre line into oncoming traffic, triggering a multi-car collision that killed her two sons and injured her two daughters. Halfyard found that while it was proven her manner of driving fell below the standard of a reasonable driver, and was objectively dangerous, he was not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that her driving was a marked departure from the standard of a reasonable driver. He also found the Crown failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Bekkers’s ability to operate a vehicle was impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash. Her lawyer, Bert King, said the past three years have been horrendous for Bekkers. “She’s happy to have it over,” he said. “She’ll be grieving for the rest of her life.” Crown counsel Frank Dubenski said it’s too early to say if the Crown will appeal. “This was a tough case,” he said. “We knew that it was going to be an uphill battle.” reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
Heather Knott listens as her husband David relives tense moments while rescuing a drowning man from heavy surf during their recent vacation in the Dominican Republic. CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
HOLIDAY HEROES Nanaimo couple part of dramatic rescue while on vacation in Dominican Republic BY TOBY GORMAN THE NEWS BULLETIN
David Knott and his family travelled to the Dominican Republic to unwind, relax and enjoy the sunshine. Instead, Knott was called upon to summon all his search and rescue training to perform a daring ocean rescue and save the life of a fellow Canadian. On March 21, 12 days into a 14-day vacation in Puerto Plata, David, wife Heather,
son Liam, who turned 11 that day, and daughter Mikhayla, 13, decided to take an ATV adventure tour while their other daughter, Kathryn, 16, enjoyed some downtime poolside. “We’d gone for a dune buggy tour the week before and Liam saw the ATV tour come back with hardly any mud on them,” said David. “We were filthy after the dune buggies. Liam said he wanted to try the ATVs for his birthday.” Two-thirds of the way through their
tour, the group stopped at the edge of a boardwalk near a remote beach. That’s when the cry for help came. David said a Spanish-speaking tour guide from another group approached his tour waving his arms and yelling excitedly. He knew something was wrong. The group ran to the beach and spotted a man caught between the surging breakers to the right and “quite a distance” from shore. ◆ See ‘RESCUER’S’ ‘ /5
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