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Beckett will stand trial for murder again

The former New Zealand city councillor charged with murdering his Dapp-area wife seven years ago faces a second murder trial after an unreasonable delay application was denied.
Peter Beckett will stand trial a second time for the murder of his wife Laura Letts-Beckett.
Peter Beckett will stand trial a second time for the murder of his wife Laura Letts-Beckett.

The former New Zealand city councillor charged with murdering his Dapp-area wife seven years ago faces a second murder trial after an unreasonable delay application was denied.

Peter Beckett, 60, is charged with one count of first-degree murder in the drowning death of his wife Laura Letts-Beckett during a boating trip at Upper Arrow Lake near Revelstoke, Aug. 18, 2010.

On June 29, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Alison Beames denied Beckett’s application during a brief hearing in Kamloops.

The application was made under a guideline established last year by the Supreme Court of Canada placing limits on criminal proceedings. In Beckett’s case, the guidelines state he should be tried within 30 months. He has been before the courts since Aug. 8, 2011.

The new trial will begin in Kelowna Aug. 21 in front a judge and jury and is scheduled for four weeks. The previous trial lasted three months and concluded with a hung jury.

Letts-Beckett was a teacher at Dapp School for 28 years and was planning to return to teach Grades 1-3 the year she died.

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