Wednesday June 17, 2015 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Future beat Brooke Richardson leads a group of dancers in a performance titled “Galaxy Guardians” during the Shuswap Dance Centre’s gala performance at the Shuswap Theatre on Saturday, June 13. Dancers performed solos, duets and group numbers showcasing a variety of dance styles.
evan buhler/oBSeRveR
Houseboat trial coming to a close by Cam Fortems KAMlooPS THIS WeeK
A B.c. Supreme court justice must decide whether the man who had control of the throttle on a ski boat when it smashed into a houseboat in the pitch darkness of Shuswap lake, killing its operator, was reckless or whether he hit another craft that should have been lit. defence and crown lawyers made final arguments Monday in the trial of leon Reinbrecht, who is charged with dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily injury. The trial comes nearly five years after the canada day fireworks celebration on the lake, in 2010. The crown called more than 50 witnesses, many of whom were on the lake or shoreline.
“This case is complex because of the variety of evidence… It’s remarkably simple in many ways as well,” said defence lawyer Joe doyle. He compared houseboat operator Ken Brown, who a toxicology test found was impaired at the time, to a driver on a highway without headlights. “This is running into an unlit vessel that’s moving, that should have had its lights on… He [Brown] shouldn’t have been out there.” The trial heard conflicting evidence from witnesses whether Brown’s houseboat had its navigational lights on. That conflict creates a reasonable doubt whether Reinbrecht is guilty, he said. But crown lawyer camille cook told Justice Sheri donegan that 25 witnesses testified they saw lights of some kind on
This week A revamped format for Relay for Life proves successful with $101,000 raised. See A16. Aboriginal students find an outlet in a unique boxing program. See A9 for details.
the houseboat, either before or some beer, but said there is no after the crash. There was evievidence he was drunk. dence, however, that a white It also admits he was going mast light was not functional. at planing speed and had cut cook said Reinbrecht’s acdonuts on the water prior to the tions before the crash consticollision that ended with Reintute what she called a “pattern brecht’s campion inserted into of reckless disregard for the the houseboat safety of others.” “It may have been careless Those included drinking to do donuts,” doyle said. “He beer, smoking pot, planing his Leon Reinbrecht wasn’t around any other boats. Accused of speedboat in the darkness and He was in the middle of the looking at the shoreline as if he negligence lake.” was lost. cook argued, however, the There is little Brown could crash was close to shore, where do to evade the crash that took his life, she extra precaution was necessary. argued. The trial is expected to be completed “There just wasn’t enough time to react Tuesday, after the Observer’s press time, to the oncoming speedboat.” with donegan reserving a decision to a defence has admitted Reinbrecht drank later date.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Time Out....................A12 Life & Times ............. A16 Sports................A17-A20 Arts & Events ... A21-A23 Vol. 108, No. 24, 48 pages