BURSTDozens of people filled the court room in Kelowna the morning of Oct. 13 to hear Brandon Kazakoff plead guilty.
The defendant pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and to the lesser charge of assault for events that resulted in the death of Kelowna teenager Tristan Seeger.
The court heard an agreed statement of facts in which, on Oct. 21, 2023, Kazakoff reacted to an incident in which family members, including his father, had been bear sprayed by a group of teens. Another family member called Kazakoff to inform him of what had occurred.
The defendant then got into his Hyundai Santa Fe to search for the teenagers he believed to be behind the bear spray incident. Kazakoff found the group of people he was looking for in the area of Ben Lee Park, assaulting one of the teens by striking him on the forehead.
The 32-year-old returned to his vehicle and began driving. While stopped at the intersection of Houghton Road and Franklyn Road, the court heard that Seeger deployed bear spray at the passenger window of Kazakoff’s car. At this time, Kazakoff turned his vehicle around, driving north on Franklyn Road in a dangerous manner, and struck 15-year-old Seeger in the crosswalk. Kazakoff did not remain at the scene.
Seeger was transported to hospital, but died the followed day.
On Oct. 22, 2023, the court heard that Kazakoff attended an Sussex Insurance in Kelowna to obtain new license plates for the Santa Fe. Later, while under police surveillance, Kazakoff was followed onto Trapping Creek Forest Service Road where it was found he had burned the Santa Fe.
The accused was arrested on Sept. 6, 2024. Kazakoff was charged with dangerous operation causing death, failure to stop or remain at scene of an accident and assault with a weapon.
The court heard that while in cells with an undercover officer, Kazakoff admitted to switching the plates on his car and later burning the vehicle. He also told the officer that he was glad the incident was caught on dash camera video by another vehicle, noting that he originally thought his actions amounted to murder.
Seeger’s mom, Paule Seeger, said it was the first time seeing the face of the man accused in the death of her son. She stood calm and still after the court appearance, making sure Kazakoff saw she was there before he left the courtroom.
“He needed to see the lives that he affected, because it wasn’t just me and it wasn’t just Tristan’s dad,” Paule said. “That courtroom was half full of people whose lives he impacted and he needed to see that.”
“I’m glad he admitted what he did,” said Seeger’s dad Jason Seeger. “But I get the feeling that he was not remorseful.”
Although Paule and Jason are separated, the pair have found comfort in the friends and family surrounding them and their other teenage son Ethan.
Kazakoff’s lawyer Glen Verdurmen said he is working with Crown on a joint submission that is “going to involve definitely a loss of his liberty for a period of time,” but did not offer up any details.
A pre-sentence report has been ordered and Kazakoff is expected to make his next court appearance on Dec. 10.