A New Zealand man accused of murdering his wife and later plotting to kill a witness in Canada is expected to go on trial next year in British Colombia.
Former Napier city councillor Peter Beckett, 56, has had lengthy delays with his trial starting, most recently in May after his lawyer was dropped from the case.
He has been accused of killing his wife Laura Letts-Beckett, 50, who he allegedly pushed off a boat in 2010 while the couple vacationed at Shelter Bay Provincial Park near Revelstoke.
In August 2011, Canadian Mountie police arrested Beckett and charged him with first-degree murder. In December, he was charged with obstruction of justice by plotting from inside jail to kill witnesses in the pending trial, Kamloops The Daily News (crrct) reported.
Crown lawyer Will Burrows said Beckett had fired several lawyers and was now self-represented.