CRANBROOK, B.C. — A woman accused of counselling her husband to commit suicide has been acquitted by a provincial court judge in Cranbrook, B.C.
Terri Reimer wept Thursday as Judge Ron Webb ruled there was reasonable doubt the defendant encouraged Bill Reimer to try to take his life on March 22, 2016.
Court was told Bill Reimer had already consumed more than 100 prescription pills when he and his wife had an angry exchange that was overheard by a family member, a former RCMP officer, as she spoke with him by phone.
Rhonda Reimer testified that she overheard the accused call the complainant a "coward" and that she would get him a gun.
The judge found insufficient evidence to convict Reimer of a charge of administering a noxious substance with intent to endanger.
He also ruled inconsistencies in testimony throughout the proceedings also prevented him from convicting Reimer of counselling suicide.
Following the acquittal, Terri Reimer said she was at peace and she believed her husband would feel the same way.
"He definitely wasn't expecting me to end up in this position, so I think we are both going to be happy with the decision," she said.
Court heard that the couple's marriage was under stress and Bill Reimer had previous suicidal episodes after his wife admitted to infidelity and a $300,000 gambling debt.
In February, Terri Reimer testified she would never tell her husband to commit suicide.
"I love him too much. I still do," she told the court.
