Confusing testimony delays trial

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Keira-Leigh

Crown prosecutors spent a third day in Supreme Court Thursday, cross-examining Coldstream resident, Chase Garrett Donaldson, who is accused of killing 22-year old Keira-Leigh Carlson with his car, failing to report the incident to the authorities and other serious charges.

Much of the final time spent cross-examining the accused focused on the actions taken immediately following the collision.  Testimony seems to have changed somewhat from that which was stated in a recorded call to ICBC and that which was stated in court.

Among the discrepancies, the defendant failed to report that he had been forced by oncoming traffic to swerve onto the shoulder and that there may have been at least one witness to the incident.  He also initially downplayed the extent of the damage to the vehicle.

The trial, which was held in Vernon Courthouse and is scheduled to conclude December 10, has taken longer than anticipated, mostly because of discrepancies in the defendant’s testimony.

At one point, Justice Frank Cole even accused Mr. Donaldson of “acting coy and not answering forthcomingly (sic).”

Among those in attendance at the trial were friends and family of Keira, many of whom wore purple as a show of support.

“This has been bery difficult for the family,” said Keira-Leigh’s father, Len Carlson.  “He’s not telling the truth and it’s adding insult to injury.”