Itsa国际传媒檚 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 fathersa国际传媒檚 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 thatsa国际传媒檚 adding more fuel to the fire for the families.

Descoteausa国际传媒檚 mom Brenda Smith and aunt Kristina Tkackuk, along with Janellesa国际传媒檚 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 wonsa国际传媒檛 be to the extent they originally intended.

sa国际传媒淲e all got our redacted copies of what wesa国际传媒檙e allowed to say,sa国际传媒� noted Tkachuk.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 disheartening,sa国际传媒� said Guyatt. sa国际传媒淵ousa国际传媒檙e not really able to say what you truly feel. Itsa国际传媒檚 got to be sugar-coated.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淲e feel like wesa国际传媒檙e suppressed every time we turn around,sa国际传媒� added Tkachuk.

Theresa国际传媒檚 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. Theysa国际传媒檝e been told itsa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淭hey discuss whatsa国际传媒檚 gone on with him while hesa国际传媒檚 been there,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淪eriously, he will be out by next year if he shows empathy,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淲e asked for an appeal,sa国际传媒� said Smith. sa国际传媒淭hey had the regional Crown review and there wonsa国际传媒檛 be an appeal.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淲e still want an appeal,sa国际传媒� Smith reiterated.

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

sa国际传媒淲e need petitions,sa国际传媒� said Smith. sa国际传媒淗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. Wesa国际传媒檙e fearful for all the Chemainus community.sa国际传媒�

Smith wonders all the time about what life would have been like if Derek hadnsa国际传媒檛 been taken away.

sa国际传媒淚 thought Isa国际传媒檇 be having little Derek babies running around,sa国际传媒� she said.

Lifesa国际传媒檚 been equally hard for the Guyatts. Janelle is now 23, but has been impacted heavily by four surgeries.

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

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

sa国际传媒淭his is the only good thing thatsa国际传媒檚 come out of this is the group,sa国际传媒� said Tkachuk.

The anniversary of Dereksa国际传媒檚 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 Dereksa国际传媒檚 brother Dustin, who died three years earlier in a car accident,

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 just so hard,sa国际传媒� summed up Smith. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e caught up in this anxiety and stress.sa国际传媒�

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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