A Grand Forks resident is back in the news regarding a high profile case from eight years ago.
Karl Lilgert is appealing his conviction last year in a fatal B.C. ferry sinking.
Lilgret was found guilty last year of criminal negligence causing death and was sentenced to four years in prison but was released on bail pending his appeal.
According to CTV, Lilgert turned himself into Grand Forks RCMP recently as part of his bail conditions.
Lilgert was navigating officer on the Queen of the North vessel when it missed a turn and struck an island near Prince Rupert in 2006. Two passengers, Gerald Foisy and Shirley Rosette, have not been found since.
Lilgert was originally charged in 2010 and the jury had been deliberating since last week.
According to Vancouver radio station News 1130, “The Crown alleged Lilgert neglected his duties when he missed a turn and then failed to take evasive action or slow the ship down, while Lilgert testified he was doing everything he could to navigate the ship through rough weather, and his lawyers blamed unreliable equipment and poor policies within B.C. Ferries.”
In his appeal, Lilgert’s defence lawyer, Glen Orris, said that the judge “made numerous errors when instructing the jury, resulting in an unfair trial.”
Orris asked that Lilgert’s release be extended until the B.C. Appeal Court makes a decision, which the court granted.