A Kelowna man accused of killing his young family appeared before a judge Thursday, making the first steps in what his lawyer says will likely be a lengthy court process.
Jacob Forman, 34, was charged with three counts of second degree murder for allegedly killing his wife Clara and two primary school age daughters, Karena and Yesenia, at some point between Sunday and Tuesday, according to court documents.
Forman said nothing during the process, but his lawyer did speak to the media.
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乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 an extremely serious, very tragic situation,乌鸦传媒� said Forman乌鸦传媒檚 defence lawyer Glen Verdurmen.
乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 know much about the case yet乌鸦传媒� I will be receiving disclosure from the Crown and reviewing with my client. I wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 expect the process to move very quickly. I am sure there are all sorts of forensic investigations, interviewing of witnesses that the police are going to be doing while they乌鸦传媒檙e assessing the case at this point in time.乌鸦传媒�
When asked, Verdurmen was reluctant to weigh in on the mental state of his client, noting that he乌鸦传媒檚 holding up 乌鸦传媒渄espite facing the worst possible thing you can be facing.乌鸦传媒�
He also said it was too early to tell what position he乌鸦传媒檇 be taking going forward or if Forman knew how he was going to plead. When Forman returns to court Jan. 18, 2018 Verdurmen said he乌鸦传媒檚 unlikely to have a significantly clearer view on these issues.
While the legal process is just getting underway, so too is the community乌鸦传媒檚 effort to deal with the loss.
Karena and Yesenia Forman were students at Heritage Christian Online School.
In a statement, the school extended their condolences to the friends and family of the girls and their mother.
乌鸦传媒淎s our community mourns their loss, there are not adequate words to express our deep sorrow at this tragedy,乌鸦传媒� reads the statement. 乌鸦传媒淥ut of respect to the family乌鸦传媒檚 privacy, we will not be making any further statement at this time but rather uplifting them in prayer.乌鸦传媒�
The Forman乌鸦传媒檚 appeared to be devout people.
In an interview with the Capital News, a high school friend of Jacob Forman said the couple met in Mexico at a Christian retreat.
Clara wrote about their meeting on Facebook and touched on their shared faith in that post.
乌鸦传媒淢et in January, started dating in July, engaged Oct. 27, married three weeks later on Nov. 11 at sunset. When I married Jacob Forman I left everything I knew to come to Canada and build a life,乌鸦传媒� she wrote, Nov. 11, 2015.
乌鸦传媒淕od blessed our feeble efforts with good jobs, good friends, a great church family and most importantly, two of the best little humans a couple of people could ask for. Ten years later you are still the person I want to grow old with.乌鸦传媒�
Friends of Clara are holding a Candlelight vigil Dec. 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Stuart Park by the Christmas tree.
乌鸦传媒淭he Latin American Community in Kelowna invites all residents to walk together against violence towards women,乌鸦传媒� reads a Facebook post. 乌鸦传媒淧lease bring a candle along. We are in this together.乌鸦传媒�
