B.C. judge rules bobcat was used as a ‘weapon’ to intimidate homeless couple

A B.C. man has been convicted of assault with a weapon after using a skid-steer Bobcat to chase two homeless people from his lawn, injuring one of them in the process. The incident unfolded two summers ago when a couple sought shade under a tree near William John Mcrae’s home to avoid heat stroke.

Justice Jeremy Guild’s decision was heard in Vernon provincial court earlier this month, where Mcrae was convicted of assault with a weapon and dangerous operation of a conveyance. Guild described the situation as “an unfortunate case of an otherwise law-abiding citizen making assumptions about two vulnerable people.”

The couple, riding their bikes towards Kin Beach on Okanagan Lake, decided to take a break under the tree in front of Mcrae’s property. Despite the high temperature that day, Mcrae confronted them, leading to a series of escalating events.

Mcrae used his skid-steer Bobcat to intimidate and scare the couple, eventually injuring the woman in the process. Guild emphasized that Mcrae’s actions were based on prejudice and assumptions about the couple, leading to the assault with the Bobcat being deemed as a weapon.

The court heard that Mcrae’s frustrations and assumptions about trespassers on his property influenced his behavior. Guild highlighted the victim’s age as a contributing factor, noting that Mcrae may have acted differently towards someone else in need of help.

Mcrae is set to appear in court for sentencing on June 14. The incident serves as a reminder of the consequences of acting on prejudice and assumptions towards vulnerable individuals.