Tristan Jed Maunder minutes after pleading guilty to dropping a large log onto a pair of kayakers on the evening of Aug. 6 2022 (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

guilty plea

Guilty plea after man drops log off Jesse Island cliff onto kayakers near Nanaimo

Jun 9, 2023 | 5:30 AM

NANAIMO — A man admitted to his role in connection to a high profile assault last summer which local RCMP say could have been fatal.

Tristan Jed Maunder, 38, pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon on Tuesday, June 6 in provincial court in Nanaimo after he pushed an estimated 20 foot long log from a Jesse Island cliff.

Nanaimo RCMP reported the Aug. 6 2022 incident saw an eight inch thick object hit a woman with enough force to send her into the water.

Her male companion was also hit by the log, but was able to stay upright and help his friend to the shore of nearby Stephenson Point, according to police.

Tristan Maunder pushed this log from a Jesse Island cliff after police say he took exception to two kayakers exploring at the base of Jesse Island. (Nanaimo RCMP)

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The kayakers were not seriously injured while several witnesses reported the incident to police.

A pre sentence report with a psychological component was ordered by a judge in advance of a sentencing hearing to take place at a yet to be determined date.

Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O’Brien earlier told NanaimoNewsNOW the kayakers were looking at some rock formations at the base of Jesse Island minutes prior to the assault.

“They had a short exchange with that person, and that individual told them they weren’t wanted on the island. They told him they weren’t planning on going on the Island, they were paddling in their kayaks and well within their right to do so. So they ignored him and continued on their way.”

A few minutes later, according to police, the kayakers heard some noise above them and saw the same man pushing a large log off a cliff directly above them.

“That log could have killed them both from the distance it fell and the weight of the log. They are extremely lucky to avoid significant serious injury,” O’Brien added a few days after the incident.

Jesse Island is private property comprised of about nine acres in size and home to a residential address.

Maunder has no criminal record in the province and he’s not in custody. He is represented by defence attorney Martin Screech.

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