Closing arguments wrap up in Kelowna for man accused of drowning his wife

Closing arguments have wrapped up in the first degree murder trial of Peter Beckett.

Beckett is charged with the drowning of his wife, Laura Letts-Beckett, while the couple was boating on Upper Arrow Lake near Revelstoke, B.C. in August of 2010.

The pair was on vacation from their home in Westlock, Alta., about 85 kilometres north of Edmonton.

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During the trial, the defense argued there was no evidence presented that Beckett pushed his wife off the boat to purposely kill her.

Beckett’s lawyer pointed to Beckett’s efforts to save his wife, saying they were not consistent with a murder plot, and the jury should conclude Letts-Beckett’s death was a tragic accident.

The prosecutor painted a much different picture of the fatal events.

The crown alleged Beckett planned the murder of his wife to cash in on a $200,000 accidental death insurance policy purchased shortly before she died.

The crown argued Beckett’s actions after he realized his wife was in the water are consistent with wanting her to die.

In a statement to police, Beckett admitted he reeled in his fishing line before turning the boat around to help his wife.

The crown also pointed to the testimony of a jailhouse snitch, who said Beckett had bragged he had a lot of money coming his way, and needed someone to take care of some witnesses.

The case in now in the hands of the jury.