Judge acquits B.C. man in 2008 boating death, injuries on Shuswap lake

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – A B.C. Supreme Court judge has acquitted a 43-year-old man of criminal charges that were laid after a fatal boating accident in 2008.

Todd Kerr was charged with dangerous operation of a vessel causing death and dangerous operation of a vessel causing bodily harm.

On the night of Aug. 2, 2008, Kerr drove a nine-metre speed boat into an island on Shuswap Lake, killing a 24-year-old woman and injuring others on in the boat.

The court heard the boat was travelling at about 48 kilometres an hour in the dark and nobody onboard saw the island until the collision.

Justice Robert Powers ruled Kerr’s actions were negligent because he was operating the boat at a higher speed than a reasonable person would have.

But Powers acquitted Kerr, saying he was left with a reasonable doubt because the Crown didn’t prove criminal liability.