Justice Frank Cole is expected to render his decision Friday in the fatal hit-and-run case of Chase Garrett Donaldson.
Donaldson, 29, is facing charges of dangerous driving causing death and failing to remain at the scene from an April 30, 2010, incident in which Kiera-Leigh Carlson, 22, was killed at around 9 p.m. while walking along Aberdeen Road toward Highway 6 in Vernon.
Her body was found in a ditch near the regional district offices by search and rescue crews at around 6 a.m. the following morning.
Written final submissions were handed in by Crown counsel Iain Currie and the defence team of Paul Danyliu and Glenn Verdermen Monday, ending a trial that went several days longer than expected and was at time emotional for the witnesses and Donaldson himself, who took the stand in his own
defence.
Cole asked for clarification on several issues and said he expects to have reasons for his decision in the B.C. Supreme Court trial by the end of the week.
The Crown is maintaining Donaldson was travelling too fast along Aberdeen Road to navigate a right-hand turn causing him to cross into the opposite lane and onto the dirt shoulder where Carlson was walking, striking and killing her.
The Crown is also maintaining Donaldson did not remain at the scene, provide his name or offer assistance and did so in a state of "at least" willful blindness that he had struck a person.
The defence disputes the claim and maintains Donaldson was forced from his own lane by an oncoming vehicle, forcing him into the opposite lane where Carlson was struck.