Close X
Saturday, November 16, 2024
ADVT 
National

'Linda O'Leary Was Not Impaired' During Fatal Boat Crash, Says Defence Lawyer

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Nov, 2019 09:08 PM

    A lawyer for Linda O'Leary, the wife of celebrity businessman Kevin O'Leary, says his client was not impaired when she got involved in a boat crash on an Ontario lake that left two people dead.

     

    Recently unsealed court documents allege Linda O'Leary had alcohol on her breath the morning after the boat she was driving collided with another vessel around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 24. on Lake Joseph.

     

    Search warrant documents filed by Ontario Provincial Police say Linda O'Leary told police she had consumed alcohol after the crash, but before the breath test was administered on the morning of Aug. 25.

     

    Linda O'Leary's lawyer, Brian Greenspan, says in a statement that the "tragic accident had nothing to do with alcohol."

     

    Two people were killed and three others were injured in the collision.

     

    Linda O'Leary faces one charge of careless operation of a vessel under the Canada Shipping Act, while the operator of the other boat, Richard Ruh, of Orchard Park, N.Y., faces one charge of failing to exhibit a navigation light while underway.

     

    None of the allegations have been proven in court.

    "Linda O'Leary was not impaired; she is a highly experienced boater who was proceeding cautiously with due care and attention," Greenspan said in a statement to The Canadian Press.

     

    "She collided with a totally unlit boat on a moonless night which was invisible to any prudent operator. No one could have avoided the collision."

     

    The court documents also say that security camera footage from nearby cottages shows the other boat, which was adrift without its engine on and carried 12 people who were out to look at stars, did not have its navigational lights on.

     

    OPP officers filed the search warrants with court in Parry Sound, Ont., as they sought to seize and investigate O'Leary's boat and seize a digital video recorder from his cottage.

     

    Det. Ronald Marshall wrote in the search warrant that another officer went to the O'Learys' cottage shortly after the crash, following a 911 call that the couple had been involved in a boating accident and were injured.

     

    "(Linda) O'Leary registered an alert and was given a three-day driving suspension," Marshall wrote in the warrant documents.

     

    "O'Leary claimed that she had consumed alcohol following the collision and after returning home."

     

    Gary Poltash, 64, from Florida died at the scene, while Suzana Brito, 48, from Uxbridge, Ont., died in hospital a few days later.

     

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Scheer Denies Spreading 'Misinformation' In Predicting Unannounced Liberal Taxes

    Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said Friday he's not spreading misinformation by accusing his Liberal and NDP opponents of contemplating tax hikes that they haven't announced.

    Scheer Denies Spreading 'Misinformation' In Predicting Unannounced Liberal Taxes

    Deportations Slow For Failed Asylum Seekers

      Statistics from the Canada Border Services Agency show that as of Sept. 27, 843 people had been removed from Canada, and a further 671 people were awaiting removals after exhausting all their options to stay in the country.    

    Deportations Slow For Failed Asylum Seekers

    Allegations Of Racism Lead To Ministry Investigation At Vancouver's St. George's Private School

    British Columbia's Education Ministry says an inspection will be conducted at a Vancouver private school following a report of alleged racist behaviour by students.

    Allegations Of Racism Lead To Ministry Investigation At Vancouver's St. George's Private School

    Swedish Activist Greta Thunberg's Visit Inspires Edmonton Climate March

    A crowd stretching two city blocks is moving through the streets of Edmonton to support Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg's visit to the Alberta capital.

    Swedish Activist Greta Thunberg's Visit Inspires Edmonton Climate March

    Harjot Singh Deo, Ex-Boyfriend Accused Of Murdering Kiran Dhesi, Granted Bail

    His bail set at $750,000 with a deposit of $50,000 on Oct. 11 under conditions that amount to house arrest.

    Harjot Singh Deo, Ex-Boyfriend Accused Of Murdering Kiran Dhesi, Granted Bail

    Frustration And Pride In Canada After A Year Of Legal Pot

    VANCOUVER - The weed is expensive, the selection is limited, the black market persists, and licensed stores are scarce.    

    Frustration And Pride In Canada After A Year Of Legal Pot