The trial of a Nanaimo woman facing impaired and dangerous driving charges following a tragic car crash three years ago continues next week.
Clare Bekkers, 38, is facing eight charges following a car crash on the Island Highway Dec. 22, 2008 that killed her two sons and injured her two daughters. Bekkers, driving northbound on the Island Highway, crossed the centre line into southbound traffic, triggering a multi-car collision.
Her trial in Supreme Court in Nanaimo, which started in September and has been adjourned several times, was expected to wrap up Wednesday with final submissions from Crown and defence lawyers, but cross-examination of a defence witness, a civil engineer with a background in forensic accident analysis, took most of the day.
At the end of the day, defence lawyer Bert King asked that evidence from a witness who testified at the preliminary inquiry but could not be found to testify at trial be included in the proceedings.
The witness, going southbound on the Island Highway that day, stated that he tried to brake when he saw the collision and his vehicle did several 360-degree turns and when he stepped out of his car, the road was like a skating rink.
King said he may have another piece of evidence to introduce before the defence’s case wraps up. Crown lawyer Frank Dubenski said that the Crown is ready to start making final submissions.
The trial is scheduled to continue Dec. 14.
