Kevin O'Leary's testimony will exonerate his wife, defence says
Linda O'Leary's lawyer, Brian Greenspan, went on the offensive in a Parry Sound, Ont., courthouse Tuesday, calling into question why his client was standing trial.
The wife of businessman and reality TV star Kevin O'Leary faces a charge of careless boating after a collision on Lake Joseph in 2019 resulted in the deaths of Gary Poltash and Suzana Brito.
"We find it difficult to understand why we are here," Greenspan said.
The defence lawyer told the court that following two weeks of proceedings, they had yet to hear any basis as to why O'Leary was responsible for the deadly crash.
The defence revealed it would call the accused's husband to testify from Los Angeles, where he is currently working via Zoom. Greenspan said Kevin O'Leary's testimony would exonerate his wife.
"He will describe the circumstances of the collision, the cooperation of the O'Leary family in the investigation, and tell you what the O'Leary's told the police from the onset that Linda O'Leary did nothing wrong," Greenspan said.
Court has heard testimony from police and friends of the O'Leary's that the other boat involved in the collision, owned by Dr. Irv Edwards, didn't have its lights on until after the crash.
Edwards and his friend Dr. Richard Ruh, who was captaining the boat at the time of the crash, testified the lights were on.
Both men are being sued in civil court.
Last week, the court heard O'Leary's breath sample produced an alert reading, but she said that was because she had a drink after the crash to calm her down.
O'Leary was served an alcoholic drink during a dinner party before the collision on the lake, but witnesses testified they didn't see her consume it, adding O'Leary had said she was the designated driver that evening.
"Kevin O'Leary will tell you of the safe and prudent driving conduct which his wife demonstrated that night and always," Greenspan told the court.
Kevin O'Leary will be the defence's first and only witness called to testify, according to Greenspan.
Closing submissions are expected to begin on Thursday. The judge's decision could take several weeks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.