NANAIMO — While his gown had been hung up for well over a decade, the death of a highly respected prosecutor caused many eyes to well up across the legal community.
Glenn S. Kelt passed away recently at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital following health challenges.
He was 70-years-old.
Kelt was assigned numerous high-profile cases after being called to the bar in 1979, including homicide trials across the province, including several in Nanaimo.
The Allan Schoenborn case was among the highest profile assignments Kelt prosecuted. Schoenborn was found not criminally responsible for slaying his three children in Merritt in 2008.
“When Glenn retired in 2011 he was known as one of the most formidable prosecutors in British Columbia history and I think that remains the case,” Victoria-based BC Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Power told NanaimoNewsNOW.
Kelt was a prosecutor in Prince George and Cranbrook before settling into an extended run in Nanaimo between 1989 until he called it a career.
Promoted to deputy regional Crown in 2001, it was a role Kelt held in Nanaimo for the remainder of his decorated career.
Power was the regional Crown lead for Vancouver Island for most of Kelt’s tenure in Nanaimo.
She saw first-hand the immense impact he made.
Kelt had an innate ability to connect with victims, allowing vulnerable witnesses to be more at ease while conveying their side of the story in court, Power said.
“That allowed the witnesses to be comfortable giving difficult testimony in very many cases and allowed the case to proceed in a way that ensured that the stories were told.”
Power said Kelt impeccably balanced his role as an advocate for the Crown, while maintaining fairness for the accused.
Kelt was named a Queen’s Counsel recipient in 2001, an honour bestowed upon lawyers providing outstanding service to the profession in the province.
Work colleagues celebrate Glenn Kelt’s Queen’s Counsel Designation after it was awarded in Dec. 2001. (Submitted photo)“I think the citizens of Nanaimo and British Columbia owe a debt of gratitude to Glenn’s family since his dedication to his role as a prosecutor took him away from his family on many occasions over the years,” Power said.
Basil McCormick has worked as a Nanaimo-based Crown prosecutor for the past 15 years.
McCormick said Kelt was universally beloved.
He said Kelt provided steady guidance during a time when Nanaimo was quickly growing, which brought big city challenges.
“He had put quite a stamp in terms of the way the Nanaimo Crown office dealt with things. Glenn was one of those people who had the respect of the police, which sometimes isn’t always the case,” McCormick said.
Chris Churchill is a longtime defence attorney in Nanaimo, who was new to the profession when he went head-to-head with Kelt during a homicide trial.
Churchill said what always stood out to him about Kelt was his high level of professionalism, intellect and kindness.
“He was commonly spoken of as an example of the right way to do things. It’s a really sad loss that he’s passed, he was really a very fine man,” Churchill said.
Glenn Kelt with his son Tagg and wife Cathy. (Submitted photo)With tears forming in his eyes thinking of Kelt’s loved ones, Churchill said numerous current lawyers and judges all over the province were positively influenced by Kelt’s guidance.
“He was someone that had excellent advice, a big world view and common sense beyond measure,” Churchill said.
Paul Walton was a longtime local newspaper reporter who closely monitored the crime and court beat with the defunct Nanaimo Daily News.
Walton covered countless proceedings involving Kelt representing the Crown.
Walton was saddened to hear of Kelt’s passing.
“Glenn Kelt set the standard for the legal profession and Crown lawyers. He knew the law, he was passionate about justice, he was a gentleman, and he had a wicked sense of humour,” Walton wrote in a statement to NanaimoNewsNOW.
Walton never heard anyone say a bad thing about Kelt.
“In the legal profession, that’s a real tribute. He was one of those rare individuals admired and respected by all: defence counsel, court clerks and deputy sheriffs, police, judges.”
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