It乌鸦传媒檚 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 father乌鸦传媒檚 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 that乌鸦传媒檚 adding more fuel to the fire for the families.

Descoteau乌鸦传媒檚 mom Brenda Smith and aunt Kristina Tkackuk, along with Janelle乌鸦传媒檚 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 won乌鸦传媒檛 be to the extent they originally intended.

乌鸦传媒淲e all got our redacted copies of what we乌鸦传媒檙e allowed to say,乌鸦传媒� noted Tkachuk.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 disheartening,乌鸦传媒� said Guyatt. 乌鸦传媒淵ou乌鸦传媒檙e not really able to say what you truly feel. It乌鸦传媒檚 got to be sugar-coated.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淲e feel like we乌鸦传媒檙e suppressed every time we turn around,乌鸦传媒� added Tkachuk.

There乌鸦传媒檚 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. They乌鸦传媒檝e been told it乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淭hey discuss what乌鸦传媒檚 gone on with him while he乌鸦传媒檚 been there,乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淪eriously, he will be out by next year if he shows empathy,乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淲e asked for an appeal,乌鸦传媒� said Smith. 乌鸦传媒淭hey had the regional Crown review and there won乌鸦传媒檛 be an appeal.乌鸦传媒�

The determination not to appeal was made by deputy regional Crown Counsel Joel Gold, but the families don乌鸦传媒檛 feel his review of the case was adequate.

乌鸦传媒淲e still want an appeal,乌鸦传媒� Smith reiterated.

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

乌鸦传媒淲e need petitions,乌鸦传媒� said Smith. 乌鸦传媒淗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. We乌鸦传媒檙e fearful for all the Chemainus community.乌鸦传媒�

Smith wonders all the time about what life would have been like if Derek hadn乌鸦传媒檛 been taken away.

乌鸦传媒淚 thought I乌鸦传媒檇 be having little Derek babies running around,乌鸦传媒� she said.

Life乌鸦传媒檚 been equally hard for the Guyatts. Janelle is now 23, but has been impacted heavily by four surgeries.

乌鸦传媒淪he lives with a disability,乌鸦传媒� said her mother Leah. 乌鸦传媒淚 think she personally decided enough was enough (surgeries). She乌鸦传媒檚 a young adult now and I let her be that way.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淭his is the only good thing that乌鸦传媒檚 come out of this is the group,乌鸦传媒� said Tkachuk.

The anniversary of Derek乌鸦传媒檚 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 Derek乌鸦传媒檚 brother Dustin, who died three years earlier in a car accident,

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 just so hard,乌鸦传媒� summed up Smith. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e caught up in this anxiety and stress.乌鸦传媒�

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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