The man accused of killing two women in a deadly hit-and-run in 2011 has pleaded guilty to one of the seven counts he is facing.
On Wednesday morning, Cory Sater reversed his not guilty plea on one count of fleeing the scene of an accident.
He is still facing six charges related to the collision, including two counts each of impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death in a collision that killed Charlene Reaveley and Lorraine Cruz. He is also facing one count of dangerous driving causing injury and one count of impaired driving causing injury related to Paulo Calimbahin, who lost his leg in the crash.
Sater's decision to reverse his plea came on the day both the Crown and defence lawyers began their closing statements.
Friends and family of Reaveley and Cruz packed the BC Supreme Court Room 209 in New Westminster, some wearing pictures of the victims and stickers that said "justice."
In the morning session, Crown counsel Chris McPherson summarized the evidence against Sater, saying the accused made a deliberate choice to drink and drive in the time leading up the collision.
The fact that he did not slow down and left the scene after indicates that Sater was not simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, he told the court.
"He doesn't even touch his brakes," McPherson said. "A person puts their brakes on when they hit something, let alone a car and... two people."
The defence was expected to present its side of the case in closing remarks Wednesday afternoon.
The trial continues
