A charge of first degree murder has been against Peter Ernest Edward Beckett, 54, of Westlock Alta., Revelstoke RCMP said today. The murder charge is related to the death of his wife, Laura Letts-Beckett, which occurred on Upper Arrow Lake on August 18, 2010.
In a statement, Cpl. Rod Wiebe said that on that day, police were called to Shelter Bay Provincial Park shortly after 8 pm after receiving report that Laura Letts-Beckett was standing in a boat when she fell over. The husband and wife were out in a small zodiac, fishing in Upper Arrow Lake. CPR attempts failed to resuscitate her.
“The Southeast District Major Crime Unit has been actively investigating this homicide since November 2010,” Wiebe said. “All investigative findings were forwarded to Crown Counsel which resulted in this murder charge being laid against Mr. Beckett.”
He was arrested on August 12 without incident after leaving a property near Christina Lake and made his first court appearance in Kelowna Provincial Court that afternoon. He has been remanded in custody to appear again on Thursday, August 17, by video.
