The trial of Obnes Regis on manslaughter and interfering with human remains began Monday, May 27 in a New Westminster courtroom.

Regis has spent most of the last three years in custody awaiting trial for the death of his wife, Naomi Onotera.

During a break in proceedings, her family finally broke their silence.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just relieved to finally start this process and we just want to see the strongest justice for my sister delivered,B次元官网网址� said Kirsten Kerr, OnoteraB次元官网网址檚 sister. B次元官网网址淎nd we want to thank the community and all our family and friends for all our support, for all the support. And we just want to see the outcome that weB次元官网网址檙e hoping for B次元官网网址� a conviction and a strong sentence.B次元官网网址�

Justice Martha Devlin paused proceedings to directly address the loved ones of Onotera.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e going to hear, some things [that] are going to be very upsetting,B次元官网网址� the judge said.

She advised people in the gallery that they might want to leave the courtroom when disturbing information is being presented.

B次元官网网址淚 want you to be prepared for what you may be hearing,B次元官网网址� Devlin said.

Crown counsel Crichton Pike presented evidence from the undercover officers and a B次元官网网址淢r. BigB次元官网网址� sting while Regis was in custody. Regis allegedly told undercover officers that he disposed of his wifeB次元官网网址檚 body parts along the Fort to Fort Trail in Fort Langley and in the Fraser River.

A Langley City resident and teacher in the Surrey school district, Onotera was last seen in late August 2021. Her family reported her missing on Aug. 29.

In the last days of August and through September, friends and family launched a massive search and distributed posters of her around the community.

But by mid-September, police were looking at Regis as a suspect.

Following a lengthy voir dire hearing in 2023, Devlin ruled that certain evidence gathered by police investigators was lawfully obtained.

That included a Sept. 13 search of the coupleB次元官网网址檚 Langley City property, during which a cadaver dog detected human remains on one corner of the yard.

IHIT was called in after the discovery.

Kerr spoke about the people loved by her sister, including her students and friends.

B次元官网网址淪he was an amazing mother,B次元官网网址� Kerr said. B次元官网网址淪he lived for her daughter and she would do anything for her. And thatB次元官网网址檚 one of the hardest parts is knowing that she wonB次元官网网址檛 get to do that. She wonB次元官网网址檛 get to see all her milestones. Her graduations, even going to kindergarten, going up growing up through school. She was a amazing sister.B次元官网网址�

Persons charged with a criminal offence are considered not guilty until the charges are proven in court.

Kerr thanked the RCMP and all the people whoB次元官网网址檝e worked very hard on this case for all their efforts.B次元官网网址�

The Crown was to present DNA information Monday afternoon, May 27.

The trial had to be postponed due to a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling that allowed defendants to choose in which official language they wanted their court proceedings done B次元官网网址� all English, all French, or bilingual. So far, RegisB次元官网网址� court proceedings have been done in English, with a translator. When the latest proceedings started, he was asked for his language preference and after consulting with his lawyer, opted to continue with English and a translator.

The judge-only trial is scheduled for one month.