Linda O’Leary found not guilty in deadly Lake Joseph boat crash

A judge has acquitted Linda O'Leary of the non-criminal charge of careless operation of a boat in a 2019 collision that killed two on a cottage country lake known as a playground for the rich and famous.

Following a high-profile trial this summer in Parry Sound, Ont., Justice Richard Humphrey on Tuesday picked apart the Crown's case which alleged O'Leary was driving her boat at an excessive and unsafe speed when it collided with a stopped vessel on a moonless night.

Reading some of his decision in court, Humphrey said he found that alcohol played no part" in O'Leary's operation of her boat, nor could he determine how fast her vessel was travelling, much less that it was excessive." He also concluded the lights on the other boat were off, a key issue at the trial.

O'Leary is married to TV celebrity and businessman Kevin O'Leary, who served as a lookout at the time of the nighttime Aug. 24, 2019, crash on Lake Joseph. She left the courthouse after the verdict, leaving defence lawyer Brian Greenspan to speak on her behalf.

On every basis, we won this case," Greenspan told reporters, reiterating that the Canada Shipping Act charge should never been laid and that the evidence showed O'Leary at all times that evening operated her vessel in a manner that was prudent and cautious."

Inside the courtroom - which was limited only to participants while spectators watched via livestream - O'Leary was very emotional" after the verdict, Greenspan said, burdened by the fact that she was involved in an accident in which two people tragically lost their lives, despite the fact that she didn't contribute in any way to that tragedy."

Gary Poltash, 64, of Florida, died at the scene, while Suzanne Brito, 48, from Uxbridge, Ont., died a few days later.

In his ruling, the judge found that not only was there insufficient evidence of her speed at the time of the collision to allow for any conclusion as to carelessness," but that evidence showed O'Leary acted responsibly that evening, declaring herself a designated driver.

Any alcohol digestion was minimal and she took pains to make certain that was the case. There was no evidence that alcohol played a part in the outcome," Humphrey said.

Prosecutors had argued she was still guilty of careless driving because she was driving too fast - despite presenting no firm evidence of that. Humphrey appeared to criticize the Crown for producing no expert evidence on safe boating practices or regulation relating to speed. He said prosecution's argument was tantamount to expecting O'Leary to act as a guarantor against any possible harm to others - even if those others acted irresponsibly. Most assuredly, that is not the state of the law."

The collision occurred around 11:30 p.m. as the O'Learys returned to their cottage after attending a dinner party less than five kilometres away. Linda O'Leary was behind the wheel of the family ski boat when it collided with the front end of the Super Air Nautique, a large boat that had stopped so passengers could stargaze.

On the central issue of the Nautique's navigational lights; Humphrey said he had no hesitancy" concluding they were off, notwithstanding the evidence of six passengers who testified they were on.

Video evidence presented in court make it clear the navigation lights were not activated when the collision occurred. There is no logical explanation to suggest otherwise in the evidence before this court," he said reading his decision.

The purpose of the venture into the open waters of Lake Joseph ... was to acquire an unobstructed view of the night sky without interference from artificial light. It defies logic to suggest they would have travelled to that location and activated the lights, the effect of which would be to defeat their purpose."

The judge observed that the operator of the Nautique had previously pleaded guilty to failing to display a navigational light. Also that an OPP marine accident reconstructionist concluded the collision occured due to the Nautique failing to display proper navigational lights in the dark. While that OPP officer was a witness for the Crown, his evidence essentially favoured the defence," Humphrey noted.

Linda O'Leary did not testify at trial. Her husband testified from Los Angeles, where he is a series regular on the popular TV show Shark Tank. He was not in court Tuesday but could be seen calling into the proceeding via zoom.

In their closing arguments, prosecutors argued his testimony, in which he described the journey home on plane" in pitch darkness, amounted to a confession" that his wife had been piloting the boat carelessly.

Humphrey concluded the Crown had mischaracterized Kevin O'Leary's evidence.

Betsy Powell is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and courts for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @powellbetsy