Local lawyer killed in Costa Rica
February 26th, 2009 | by admin |Robert Wilson remembered as ‘decent human being’
Local lawyer Robert Wilson was killed in an apparent swimming accident Wednesday morning while vacationing in Costa Rica.
Wilson, 60, was in the Central American country with his wife, Margaret, said Ontario Court Justice Charles Anderson, a longtime friend and former partner.
Wilson, who was staying at Jaco Beach, had gone out for “just a last splash” when he was suddenly tunnelled over by a large wave, said Anderson. The wave knocked him down and he apparently hit his head against a rock and drowned.
An emotional Anderson was preparing to fly out to Costa Rica Thursday with his wife to help Wilson’s family.
Staff at the Canadian Embassy in Costa Rica referred media calls to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Emma Welford confirmed that consular officials in Costa Rica were dealing with the apparent drowning of a Canadian citizen and providing support to the family, but could not disclose any further information because of the Privacy Act.
Anderson and Wilson went to school together at Queen’s University, quickly became friends and decided to open a practice together while articling at separate firms in Ottawa.
The judge said he learned of the tragedy near the end of his day’s list in Kemptville court and had to stop for the day.
“I couldn’t do it.”
When they started out, Wilson wanted to focus on real estate while Anderson went into litigation, so the two were a good fit, Anderson said.
The pair opened the Brockville firm in 1975 and worked together for 15 years until Anderson was appointed a judge.
