Court: Lake Receives Suspended Sentence
[Written by Don Burgess]
Andrew Lake received a suspended sentence in connection with the boat collision death of Mary McKee, a visitor from New Zealand who was in Bermuda to attend the America’s Cup.
The 27-year-old had been found not guilty of the charge of manslaughter, however he admitted to reckless driving.
Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons gave Mr Lake an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years.
He also got five months, also suspended for two years, for causing injuries to Mrs McKee’s husband Arthur and Charlie Watson, and Mr Lake was also handed 100 hours of community service.
Earlier in the day, Mr Lake was seen wiping his eyes as a victim impact statement was read from Missy McKee, the daughter of Mrs McKee.
In it, the younger McKee said, “My mother never had the joy of knowing her daughter was pregnant, she never met her grandchild, never got to hold her, kiss her sweetly, to see her journey in life, or be a part of it. This Andrew Lake, is what you have stolen from me and what you have to live with it.
“My last memory of my mother was holding her cold, stiff hand. I hope you and your family will never have to face the loss, pain and life-long suffering we will have to endure.”
Other victim impact statements were read into the record by Crown Counsel Cindy Clarke from the rest of the family, including Mrs McKee’s husband, and her other children, as well as a statement from Mr Watson.
Mr Watson says he suffers from PSTD from the accident and has one leg that is 1.5 cm shorter than the other. In it, he said his femur may have to be broken to set it again.
Mr McKee’s statement said, “Every day I would like you to understand the devastating consequences of your recklessness. There’s not a day, hardly even an hour when I do not think about her and this accident.”
Before sentencing, Mr Lake said that he was sorry the accident occurred, resulting in the injuries to Charlie Watson and Arthur McKee, as well as the death of Mrs McKee.
He said the victim impact statements were right in that he didn’t know much about Mrs McKee other than the brief account in the press and “that pixelated picture will be forever etched in my mind.
“As for that horrible night, everybody involved will always be in my heart, and I just hope, at the resolution of this trial, I will be able to reach out to them and express my sincerest apologies to them and their families.”
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