Drowning victim always wore a life-jacket, murder trial told

Friend of Peter and Laura Beckett testifies Laura was always careful around water because she couldn’t swim

The prosecution has completed its case against the man accused of drowning his wife in a Revelstoke-area lake in 2010.

Peter Beckett is charged with first-degree murder in the August 2010 death of his wife, Laura.

Crown counsel argues Beckett, a former New Zealand city councillor, planned to murder his wife, a schoolteacher in Dapp, Alta., to cash in on a life insurance policy and get at her inheritance.

Beckett claims his wife fell off the back of their boat in Upper Arrow Lake and that he tried to save her but failed.

Defence counsel is expected to begin calling witnesses today.

Mary Hawkins, a friend of the Becketts who knew the couple from camping at Shelter Bay Provincial Park over the years, told the jury Laura Letts-Beckett was always cautious around the water.

“We talked at great length about being out in the boat and on the water,” said Hawkins. “We were both non-swimmers. She couldn’t swim, and she told me she was afraid of the water and that she always wore a life-jacket.”

Defence lawyer Marilyn Sandford told Hawkins she must be mistaken and that she was likely remembering their conversations incorrectly.

“I’m very sorry, I honestly believe she said she wouldn’t go out in the boat without a life-jacket on,” said Hawkins.

Following the incident, Hawkins recalled Beckett telling her Laura had taken off her life-jacket because she was too hot.

Former Staff Sgt. Jacquie Olsen, who was in charge of the Revelstoke RCMP detachment at the time, told the jury she found a life-jacket on board the Becketts’ Zodiac boat following the incident and that it was dry.

Wendy Scinski, a friend of Laura’s and the former principal of Dapp Elementary, where Laura was a teacher, testified in court this week about a strange encounter she had with Beckett following Laura’s death.

One day, she drove to Edmonton with Beckett to buy a memorial fountain for Laura.

After buying the fountain, Beckett told Scinski he was going to see a lawyer in town.

“I wasn’t aware that was going to be part of it,” said Scinski. “My understanding was we were purchasing a fountain and coming home.”

Beckett initially suggested Scinski drive around until he was finished with the lawyer, but Scinski told him she was not comfortable with that and she would rather get a coffee and wait for him.

Beckett then changed his mind and told her to come to the meeting with him.

“It was lengthy,” Scinski said of the meeting with the lawyer. “The gist of why he was there was he believed a lawyer in Westlock by the name of Ray Barlow had produced a fraudulent will for Laura.”

Beckett believed his wife did not have a will and that a fraudulent will appeared after her death, said Scinski.

After leaving the lawyer’s office, Scinski said Beckett asked her if she thought the lawyer was going to take his case.

“I recall saying to him, ‘you don’t have a case. There’s nothing here,’” she said.

The trial continues.