By Cam Fortems, Kamloops This Week
The Crown and defence will both rely on expert witnesses on marine navigation and lighting during a trial for a man accused of criminal negligence in the death of a houseboater on Shuswap Lake more than four years ago.
Leon Reinbrecht is charged with criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm in connection to the death of 53-year-old Kenneth William (Kenny) Brown of Chase.
The crash resulted in an 18-foot Campion runabout inserted into the main deck of the houseboat on July 3, 2010, following Canada Day fireworks on the lakeshore.
Eight other people were taken to hospital after the crash.
Lawyers met yesterday (Jan. 29) at a pre-trial conference before the trial in B.C. Supreme Court, now set for the middle of February and expected to last a month.
The Crown is scheduled to call as many as 50 witnesses in what Vancouver defence lawyer Joe Doyle called a “heavily eye witness-intensive trial.”
In addition to hearing from several dozen people who were on or near the lake that night, both Crown and defence will rely on expert opinion evidence.
Crown prosecutor Neil Flanagan said he will call an RCMP toxicologist who will testify to the affects of alcohol on operator ability, as well as an RCMP marine accident reconstructionist who will also testify on safe boat operation.
Doyle said he expects to call Reinbrecht to testify on his own behalf as well as expert evidence on engineering and emergency vessel operation.
If Reinbrecht is found guilty, the defence is also expected to bring a Constitutional challenge based on what it claims is Crown delay in the trial.
The Shuswap man was charged in December 2011 following a 17-month investigation carried out by Chase RCMP, with the assistance of investigators from Transport Canada and the B.C. Coroners Service.