It91裸聊视频檚 been seven years of anguish, frustration and a constant battle for justice for the families of Derek Descoteau and Janelle Guyatt.

On May 20, 2016, Descoteau was stabbed to death while at his father91裸聊视频檚 residence in Chemainus. Guyatt, his girlfriend, suffered serious knife wounds but survived. The pair had been eating lunch and watching a movie when a shirtless man appeared holding a knife, then started slashing.

Colin John, found not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder March 20 after a long court process, has a B.C. Review Board hearing Wednesday that91裸聊视频檚 adding more fuel to the fire for the families.

Descoteau91裸聊视频檚 mom Brenda Smith and aunt Kristina Tkackuk, along with Janelle91裸聊视频檚 mom Leah Guyatt, are making the trip to the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam where John is housed for the hearing.

The three of them are prepared to read victim impact statements, but it won91裸聊视频檛 be to the extent they originally intended.

91裸聊视频淲e all got our redacted copies of what we91裸聊视频檙e allowed to say,91裸聊视频� noted Tkachuk.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 disheartening,91裸聊视频� said Guyatt. 91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e not really able to say what you truly feel. It91裸聊视频檚 got to be sugar-coated.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲e feel like we91裸聊视频檙e suppressed every time we turn around,91裸聊视频� added Tkachuk.

There91裸聊视频檚 no a guarantee the three will have their say at all, other than the written statements, with John expected to be in attendance to hear it. They91裸聊视频檝e been told it91裸聊视频檚 only if time permits and the hearing must be concluded at 4 p.m. that day, with no extensions.

There are many other victim impact statements from family and friends. Family members have been told by Crown that all Review Board members are obligated to read them before the hearing.

The Review Board panel will consist of psychiatrists, a community member such as a social worker and lawyers for the Crown and defence.

91裸聊视频淭hey discuss what91裸聊视频檚 gone on with him while he91裸聊视频檚 been there,91裸聊视频� Tkachuk explained.

The Review Board has taken over jurisdiction of the accused and must make a decision within a month, by June 17, with one of three possible outcomes: an absolute discharge; a conditional discharge; or detention in custody in a hospital.

Those plausible outcomes have the families outraged since it means John could still be out within a year even with the third option when his case would be reviewed again.

91裸聊视频淪eriously, he will be out by next year if he shows empathy,91裸聊视频� stated Smith.

This case took what seemed like a dramatic turn in December of 2021 when John pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Descoteau and a downgraded charge of aggravated assault against Janelle Guyatt.

A subsequent court appearance led Justice Lisa Warren to order a pre-sentence report and then an application by the defence for a not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder determination came out of the blue.

That resulted in another series of hearings in 2022 and stretching into March of 2023 when Warren read a lengthy statement in which she agreed the assessment of John left him not criminally responsible for the death of Descoteau.

91裸聊视频淲e asked for an appeal,91裸聊视频� said Smith. 91裸聊视频淭hey had the regional Crown review and there won91裸聊视频檛 be an appeal.91裸聊视频�

The determination not to appeal was made by deputy regional Crown Counsel Joel Gold, but the families don91裸聊视频檛 feel his review of the case was adequate.

91裸聊视频淲e still want an appeal,91裸聊视频� Smith reiterated.

She feels a second set of eyes needs to look more closely at all the facts.

91裸聊视频淲e need petitions,91裸聊视频� said Smith. 91裸聊视频淗e is a dangerous person. He could be back living in our little town of Chemainus. We could go over there on Wednesday and he could get partial discharge. We91裸聊视频檙e fearful for all the Chemainus community.91裸聊视频�

Smith wonders all the time about what life would have been like if Derek hadn91裸聊视频檛 been taken away.

91裸聊视频淚 thought I91裸聊视频檇 be having little Derek babies running around,91裸聊视频� she said.

Life91裸聊视频檚 been equally hard for the Guyatts. Janelle is now 23, but has been impacted heavily by four surgeries.

91裸聊视频淪he lives with a disability,91裸聊视频� said her mother Leah. 91裸聊视频淚 think she personally decided enough was enough (surgeries). She91裸聊视频檚 a young adult now and I let her be that way.91裸聊视频�

The resolve all the family members have shown has made their bond stronger.

91裸聊视频淭his is the only good thing that91裸聊视频檚 come out of this is the group,91裸聊视频� said Tkachuk.

The anniversary of Derek91裸聊视频檚 death will be marked as it is each year with a visit to the DD memorial site on the Pacific Marine Circle Route between Mesachie Lake and Port Renfrew that includes tributes to Derek91裸聊视频檚 brother Dustin, who died three years earlier in a car accident,

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just so hard,91裸聊视频� summed up Smith. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e caught up in this anxiety and stress.91裸聊视频�

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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