The trial of former New Zealand city councillor Peter Beckett, accused of murdering his wife and former Dapp-area teacher Laura Letts-Beckett, has been declared a mistrial after a jury was unable to deliver a verdict.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ian Meiklem pushed the 12-person jury for a unanimous decision but the group returned hung at 6:45 p.m. April 12.
In the end, it was the voice of one dissenting juror that caused the mistrial.
Beckett, described throughout the trial as a “mountain of a man” at six foot eight and nearly 450 pounds, was known in court for his wild behaviour and outbursts on the stand.
Moments before the hung jury was made official, he called the verdict “totally predictable.”
Another juror, one of two dismissed before deliberation as part of a random draw, agreed with Beckett’s assessment, replying “not really,” when asked if he was surprised by the verdict.
“Looking at it from the outside, maybe a little bit, but you can never really get a good read on what 12 people will think,” the juror said.
“With it all being circumstantial, it’s hard to tell.”
Beckett’s defence has repeatedly cited the Crown’s lack of evidence throughout the trial.
More than 50 witnesses were called, ranging from police, to friends and family of the couple and a jailhouse snitch who alleges Beckett attempted to solicit his help in the murder of several key witnesses, including an RCMP investigator and at least one lawyer.
Beckett maintains that his wife’s death was either an accident, or a suicide attempt. Letts-Beckett’s own diary has at least one entry in 2007 admitting suicidal thoughts.
Court heard that Letts-Beckett went overboard while the pair were on an evening boat ride near Shelter Bay Provincial Park Campground.
She was not a strong swimmer and, according to Beckett, was not wearing a life jacket when she went overboard.
A friend Letts-Beckett confirmed that she frequently failed to wear a life jacket on fishing trips with the couple.
In its closing arguments, the Crown meticulously recounted inconsistencies in Beckett’s statements to police and other witnesses in the aftermath of the drowning.
Beckett’s story of the drowning has varied throughout the years since their fishing trip, variously describing her death as “silent” and “panicked.”
Prosecutor Sarah Firestone also pointed to inconsistencies in Beckett’s rescue story as more evidence of fabrication designed to conceal murder.
Beckett claims his attempts to save Letts-Beckett were delayed because of his inability to dive and reach her, sending him ashore to find a rock to sink his body.
“It defies common sense that a rock is heavy enough to sink with which you can still swim,” Firestone told court.
“The accused is lying to you about finding a rock and doing anything to save Laura. He wasn’t trying to save her because he was trying to kill her.”
Lawyers were schedule to return to court on April 18 to set a date for Beckett’s next court appearance — until then he will remain in custody.
The Westlock News’ attempts to contact the family of Letts-Beckett for comment were unsuccessful.
Editors Note: Compiled from files courtesy of Tim Petruk and Kamloops This Week.
