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The Murder of Laura Letts-Beckett
Homicide Statistics
Criminal Behavior System
In Canada
In Alberta and BC
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An opinion for interest sake. In a personal communication with a friend of the Letts family it arose that possibly Peter Beckett killed Laura Letts-Beckett for money. Letts met Beckett while on vacation in New Zealand, and soon after he moved to Canada to live with her. Laura Letts-Beckett had a very high life insurance, as well as ownership of a few quarters of land, said to be worth approximately $750, 000 total. (Personal communication, March 25, 2013)
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Peter Beckett, originally from New Zealand, was an elected city councilor of Napier, New Zealand. His time in office came about abruptly, and shortly after, he quickly disappeared to Canada. During his time in office, he was almost forced to resign when he got into a bar fight in Napier. Beckett was known for occasionally showing his temper (Personal comment, March 25, 2013). His previous jobs before becoming councilor included customs officer, insurance agent, and small touring business owner. In Canada, Peter Beckett worked as a school bus driver in rural Alberta. After Peter Beckett left New Zealand, his ex-wife and three children did not receive any type of communication from him for six years, until the RCMP phoned his ex wife to ask some questions. Peter Beckett’s antisocial type behavior through his several jobs, his ability to run away and sever ties so easily, and his continued propensity to crime, indicate a latent trait.
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In Alberta, where Laura Letts-Beckett grew up and lived with her husband Peter Beckett, there were 77 reported homicides in 2010. In comparison to the Alberta homicide rate, British Colombia had 83 in 2010. The population of Alberta in 2010 remained around 3.69 million, and in British Colombia, around 4.5 million. This means that in Alberta there was a homicide rate of about 1 in 47, 922, and in British Colombia there was a homicide rate of approximately 1 in 54, 217. Homicide rates Canada wide have remained relatively stable over the last 10 years. Because Peter Beckett tried to make his wife’s murder look accidental, might he have gone to British Colombia to commit the act because statistically, homicide rates are lower?
According to Stats Canada, in all of Canada for 2010, there were 554 homicides reported. However, this would not be including the murder of Laura Letts-Beckett, as initially, her passing was determined to be accidental. It was not until June of 2011 that the RCMP began their homicide investigation. During the year Peter Beckett is suspected to have killed his wife, Canada wide spousal homicide rates increased 19%.
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The murder of Laura Letts-Becket took place on August 18 of 2010. She was 50 years old, while Peter Beckett, the suspected murderer, was 54. The murder occurred on the Upper Arrow lake near Shelter Bay, British Colombia.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/snuffy/159494058/lightbox/
Upper Arrow Lake
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In New Zealand
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The initial story by Peter Beckett, who was with Laura Letts-Beckett on the lake, was that she fell out of the boat not wearing a life jacket, was unable to swim, and he was not able to resuscitate her. Homicide investigations did not occur until the following June, were a team of RCMP using a helicopter and boat re-examined the crime scene out on the water. The reasons for the delayed investigation were not released to the public. Murder charges were laid on Peter Beckett in August. In December 2012, the charges of counseling to commit murder and obstruction of justice were laid after a four month investigation. Beckett was plotting to have five people involved with the case murdered. A few of the targeted were key witnesses, as well as a detective. Beckett had hopes that killing the five people, if untraceable, would change the outcome of his upcoming trial. None of the targets have been harmed.
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THEORY
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In New Zealand, where the suspected murderer Peter Beckett is from, there were 46 counts of murder in 2010. With a general population of about 4.36 million inhabitants at the time, the murder rate remains at about 1 in 94, 782. This does not indicate Peter Beckett came from a very violent country.
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One theory that could explain Peter Beckett’s criminal actions is trait theory. Trait theory suggests that people are either born with, or quickly grow to have, certain traits that make them more at risk for committing crimes. Beckett did not come from a rough society, nor was he involved in lots of other criminal actions prior, and he was not socialized into crime. Beckett’s antisocial type behavior through previous actions in his life indicate an odd latent trait. Peter Beckett’s propensity to commit crime has likely remained stable throughout his life, although it was not until the summer of 2010, that the opportunity to commit a serious violent crime presented itself.
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Photo taken in 1998 during Peter Beckett's councillorship in Napier, New Zealand.
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Laws Governing Peter Beckett's Crimes
Penology
Counselling to Commit Murder
Murder
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Peter Beckett has charges of both, first degree murder of Laura Letts-Beckett, as well as “counseling to commit murder and obstruction of justice.” According to the Criminal Code of Canada, section 229, “Culpable homicide is murder. (a) where the person who causes the death of a human being(i) means to cause his death, or(ii) means to cause him bodily harm that he knows is likely to cause his death, and is reckless whether death ensues or not;(b) where a person, meaning to cause death to a human being or meaning to cause him bodily harm that he knows is likely to cause his death, and being reckless whether death ensues or not, by accident or mistake causes death to another human being, notwithstanding that he does not mean to cause death or bodily harm to that human being; or(c) where a person, for an unlawful object, does anything that he knows or ought to know is likely to cause death, and thereby causes death to a human being, notwithstanding that he desires to effect his object without causing death or bodily harm to any human being.”
As well, in relation to the second charge of counselling to commit murder, the Criminal Code states:“22. (1) Where a person counsels another person to be a party to an offence and that other person is afterwards a party to that offence, the person who counselled is a party to that offence, notwithstanding that the offence was committed in a way different from that which was counselled.”
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Mr. Peter Beckett is to stand trial for Laura Letts-Beckett’s murder on May 21, 2013 in the Salmon Arm Provincial Court, in British Colombia. Because of Beckett’s attempts to have five others murdered, in obstruction to his court proceedings, the court system will have more to take into consideration. If convicted with first degree murder, Beckett will face a life sentence with 25 years before parole eligibility. After 15 years of his sentence, Beckett could sign up to be eligible for the “faint hope-clause” which would reduce the amount of years necessary before parole. If Beckett is ever given parole, parole will continue for the rest of his life, and if he fails to meet the terms of his parole at any time, he will be sent back to jail. Currently Becket is 56 years old, and if convicted he may remain in jail until he is over 80.
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Concerning Beckett's obstruction to justice charge, he could receive a sentence under 10 years. Beckett is currently being held in custody at the Surrey pre-trial center in Surrey, British Colombia.
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Obstruction of Justice
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This case study will focus on Peter Beckett’s first degree murder charge. The actus reus is present, as Peter Beckett is suspected to have committed the murder. The mens rea was also present, as the charges laid against Peter Beckett were first degree, indicating planned and purposeful murder.
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In accordance to his most recent charge of obstruction to justice, which was alongside his counseling to commit murder charge, the Criminal Code of Canada states:
“139.
(1) Every one who wilfully attempts in any manner to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice in a judicial proceeding, (a) by indemnifying or agreeing to indemnify a surety, in any way and either in whole or in part, or (b) where he is a surety, by accepting or agreeing to accept a fee or any form of indemnity whether in whole or in part from or in respect of a person who is released or is to be released from custody, is guilty of (c) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or (d) an offence punishable on summary conviction.
Idem (2) Every one who wilfully attempts in any manner other than a manner described in subsection (1) to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years.
Idem (3) Without restricting the generality of subsection (2), every one shall be deemed wilfully to attempt to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice who in a judicial proceeding, existing or proposed, (a) dissuades or attempts to dissuade a person by threats, bribes or other corrupt means from giving evidence; (b) influences or attempts to influence by threats, bribes or other corrupt means a person in his conduct as a juror; or(c) accepts or obtains, agrees to accept or attempts to obtain a bribe or other corrupt consideration to abstain from giving evidence, or to do or to refrain from doing anything as a juror.”
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Laura Letts-Beckett at her teaching job in Dapp, Alberta.
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Some excerpts from her eulogy include a letter from her niece,
“Dear Aunt Laura,
“You were always a happy, cheerful person. I cannot recall a time when I saw you unhappy. A few words that describe you are kind, loving, gentle-hearted, thoughtful, and generous. I’m sure I could go on and on. Your smile was like the sun; it lit the world up everyday.” Love, Mariah”
As well as,
“Laura almost always stayed at the Westin, when Teachers’ Convention was on. I ask you – how many people do you know who can greet the bell hop by name and then he gives Laura a huge hug and says, “Laura, I’ve missed you”” (W. Frose, Personal communication, March 25, 2013).
References
1) Alberta Finance and Enterprise, Economics, Demography and Public Finance, March 24, 2011. (2011). Quarterly Population report, fourth quarter 2010. Retrieved from http://www.finance.alberta.ca/aboutalberta/population_reports/201 0-4thquarter.pdf
2) Department of Justice Canada. (2012). Life Sentences and Section 745.6 of the Criminal Code. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi- cpcv/guide/secm.html
3) Government of Canada. (2013). Justice Laws Website. Retrieved from http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/page-111.html#h-78
4) Hawke’s Bay Today. (2012). Former Napier councilor faces more charges in Canada. Retrieved from http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/former-napier-councillor- faces-more-charges-canada/1656017/
5) Hopper, T. (2011). New Zealand family stunned by Canadian murder charge. Retrieved from http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/08/30/new- zealand-family-stunned-by-canadian-murder-charge/
6) Neuman, D., (2012). Peter Beckett faces new charges. Retrieved from http://www.westlocknews.com/article/20121211/WES0801/31211 9960/0/wes
7) New Zealand Police. (2010). Crime Statistics for Calendar Year ending 31 December 2010. Retrieved from http://www.police.govt.nz/statistics/2010/calendar#homicide_vi ms_report
8) Orlando, A. (December 11, 2012). Update: Kiwi charged with murdering wife near Revelstoke arrested for plotting to kill five. Retrieved from http://www.revelstoketimesreview.com/breaking_news/183060621. html
9) Siegel, L., Brown, G. P., Hoffman, R. (2006). Criminology: The Core. Toronto ON: Joanna Cotton.
10) Statistics Canada. (2012). Homicide offenses, number and rate, by province and territory. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables- tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/legal12a-eng.htm
11) Statistics Canada. (2013). Violence against women, 2011. Retrieved from
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/130225/dq130225a- eng.htm
12) Statistics New Zealand. (2010). National Population Estimates: March 2010 Quarter. Retrieved from http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/estimates_an d_projections/NationalPopulationEstimates_HOTPMar10qtr/Comme ntary.aspx
13) The Dominion Post News. (2012). Former Councillor on murder charges. Retrieved from http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion- post/news/hawkes-bay/8071064/Former-councillor-on-murder- charges