Gentles trial finishes in Williams Lake

Justice John D. Truscott adjourned the Gentles trial Wednesday after lawyers for both sides gave their final arguments.

Justice D. Truscott adjourned the Martin William Gentles trial Wednesday in B.C. Supreme Court after Crown and Defence presented their final arguments.

Truscott said he will reserve judgement to review the evidence and the law, and set Jan. 5, 2015 to meet with the lawyers to fix a date for him to deliver his judgement in the case.

Gentles, 30, is charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Rayel MacDonald, dangerous driving causing bodily harm to Alysha Mullet, impaired driving causing an accident resulting in death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, causing an accident resulting in death, causing an accident resulting in bodily harm and failure to stop at an accident.

The charges stem from an incident in Williams Lake on April 22, 2012, when a pickup driven by Gentles collided with MacDonald and Mullet while they were walking across Carson Drive after attending the Indoor Rodeo barn dance.

In their final statements, Crown counsel Julie Dufour argued that Gentles should be found guilty of all seven charges against him, while defence counsel Ken Walker argued Gentles should not be found guilty of any of the charges.

The trial began on Nov. 24 with the Crown called a number of witnesses including RCMP members, a traffic incident analyst, a motor vehicle inspector, a bartender, a forensic toxicologist and civilians.

 

Williams Lake Tribune