Thomas Kruger-Allen was expected to go to trial in Penticton Supreme Court on assault charges stemming from a May 3, 2019 assault on Okanagan Lake beach, but entered guilty pleas to one aggravated assault and two assault charges this morning, June 8, 2020.
(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)
June 08, 2020 - 1:46 PM
The man accused of a violent assault on a good samaritan on Okanagan Lake beach on May 3, 2019, was back in Penticton Supreme Court today.
Thomas Kruger-Allen, 22, was scheduled for the first day of a trial on two charges of assault, one charge of sexual assault and one charge of aggravated assault.
But Kruger-Allen entered guilty pleas to three of the charges, including aggravated assault and two charges of assault, according to B.C. Prosecutor Service communications counsel Dan McLaughlin.
Kruger-Allen’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 20 for sentencing.
Victim Brad Eliason sustained a severe head injury in the assault. He was at the beach with friends when he saw Kruger-Allen and another man harassing some younger people on the beach, including a young woman.
When Eliason attempted to intervene, he was jumped by the two men and knocked down, hitting his head on the ground.
Elaison spent several weeks in a coma, suffering seizures and undergoing several surgeries.
Kruger-Allen was also serving 18 months’ probation for his part in an unprovoked attack outside the Mule nightclub in Penticton in 2017 when the beach attack occurred.
The victim in that case was punched and kicked by several people including Kruger-Allen, sustaining injuries requiring stitches, a shattered nose and orbital bone.
He's also facing further assault and break and enter charges from an Oct. 19, 2019 incident in Penticton.
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