Peter Beckett, born 1961, in an old photo from his days as a city councilor in New Zealand.
Image Credit: New Zealand Herald (with permission)
September 12, 2021 - 4:09 PM
A former New Zealand politician who served time for allegedly murdering his wife is now suing a man for allegedly selling his motorhome without his permission.
Peter Beckett, a former city councillor, was convicted in 2017 for the first-degree murder of his wife, Laura Letts Beckett while they were on a vacation at Upper Arrow Lake near Revelstoke. This conviction came a year after another trial on the matter ended in a hung jury.
In 2020, Beckett successfully petitioned the Court of Appeal to overturn that guilty verdict based on mistakes the judge made in instructing jurors and that the prosecutor made improper submissions to the jury.
That left the B.C. Prosecution Service to decide whether it would try Beckett on the matter for a third time. It decided it would not.
READ MORE: Former New Zealand politician won't face third murder trial for death of wife
Beckett alleges his motorhome, a 2007 Fleetwood Revolution 40LE, was sold by Brian Graham to an unknown third party without “authority or instructions” to get rid of it.
The motorhome was originally purchased by Beckett in 2006 for $196,000 USD, according to a lawsuit filed by Beckett in the Supreme Court of B.C., Aug. 30.
Graham allegedly sold the motorhome for $17,501 in 2016 and told Beckett he sold it to offset storage charges. Beckett said Graham told him he could store the motorhome for free. He also alleges Graham did not give him the purchaser information or where the motorhome was sold to, according to the lawsuit.
He also alleges Graham was aware the motorhome was worth roughly $200,000 during the time of initial storage in March 2012.
Beckett wants Graham to give him back the motorhome and all the sums owning as the result of the “fraudulent conversion” of the motorhome by Graham, according to the court documents. He also wants a judgement of $200,000 to be issued for loss and damages resulting from the conduct of Graham.
None of Beckett’s allegations against Graham have been proven in court.
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