Spokane man accused of causing the deaths of three in Lake Coeur d’Alene boat crash testifies at trial

Former Spokane advertising executive Dennis Magner, who is accused of inadvertently causing the deaths of three in a Lake Coeur d’Alene boat crash two years ago, took the stand in his trial Tuesday.

The defense Tuesday called its first witnesses in the trial of Magner, who is charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter. One of the passengers in Magner’s boat and a forensic neuropsychologist also testified, the latter saying the brain injury Magner sustained in the crash could have led to post-traumatic amnesia.

Magner was driving his Mastercraft boat on July 30, 2016, across Lake Coeur d’Alene a little less than an hour after sunset when his vessel hit a Formula boat that had its navigation lights turned off, throwing two of the Mastercraft’s four passengers into the water. According to court testimony, the occupants of the Formula boat, Justin Luhr, 34, Justin Honken, 21, and Caitlyn Breeze, 21, sustained incapacitating injuries in the crash, fell into the water and drowned.

Jonathan Sweat, a passenger in the Mastercraft, testified Tuesday that Magner sustained a head injury in the crash and briefly lost consciousness. Sweat said he was the calmest and did not sustain serious injuries, so he told deputies he was the one who had been driving the boat. Once he and the other passengers in the Formula boat learned several people may have been killed in the crash, they admitted Magner had been the driver, Sweat said.

During his testimony, Magner said he met passengers Sweat and Skye Neversorry through a mutual friend two days before the crash. He met the other passengers in the boat, who were friends of Sweat, the day of the collision.

Magner said he had family visiting the weekend of the crash and invited Sweat to stop by his lakeside cabin. He said after the group arrived midafternoon, he drank three or four beers in the six hours they were at his cabin. He also allowed them to sample high-end tequila he kept at the cabin, saying he only drank a small amount to taste.

Magner testified that Sweat suggested the group go to a social gathering on a beach in a different area of the lake, and Magner said he would like to drive his boat because it had just been repaired that morning. The group met one of Sweat’s acquaintances at a restaurant, where Magner bought them a large multistraw drink to share. He said the group did not like the drink and he only tried one sip.

As it started to get dark, Magner said, he and his passengers headed to the Mastercraft, turned on its navigation lights and prepared to head to his cabin.

Earlier Tuesday, Elizabeth Ziegler, a forensic neuropsychologist, said her research into testimony and records from the case indicate Magner may have suffered a traumatic brain injury. She referred to testimony from other witnesses who said Magner told them he had no memory of the period between the crash and when deputies arrived at the scene.

During his cross-examination, Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh asked Ziegler if Magner may have faked his memory loss. Ziegler, who has written several scholarly articles on feigning amnesia, said she saw no evidence of it.

Magner was the last witness to take the stand Tuesday. His testimony is expected to continue Wednesday morning.