It was mid-day on May 20, 2016, when a shirtless man suddenly loomed over a couch and started stabbing.
Derek Descoteau, then 20, and his girlfriend Janelle Guyatt were in the basement suite of DescoteauB次元官网网址檚 dadB次元官网网址檚 house in Chemainus, eating lunch and watching a movie. Descoteau died that day from multiple knife wounds. Guyatt survived, albeit requiring several surgeries for nerve damage that will never completely heal.
Five years later, the pain still fresh and the case still before the courts, DescoteauB次元官网网址檚 friends remain a constant source of comfort to his family.
B次元官网网址淲e are still so thankful that DerekB次元官网网址檚 friends have continued to welcome us into their lives B次元官网网址� so many stories, memories, tears and laughs,B次元官网网址� noted mom Brenda Smith of Duncan. B次元官网网址淛anelle and her parents, Leah and Bill, have become an important part of family. We are amazed at the strength Janelle showed throughout her surgeries, constant pain and physical rehabilitation. SheB次元官网网址檚 just a beautiful girl inside and out, she is a hard worker and is now focused on her future.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎s the five-year anniversary approaches, all the intense emotions that we first experienced on that horrific day come rushing back B次元官网网址� it seems like yesterday.B次元官网网址�
The trial of Colin John, the man accused of the second-degree murder of Descoteau and the attempted murder of Guyatt, opened in 2018, but remains unresolved B次元官网网址� partly due to a long period of determining his mental fitness to stand trial and partly due to COVID.
The future that was taken away from Descoteau for no apparent reason is still tough for the family to fathom. But the amazing will of his friends to never forget him has provided strength to Brenda, her husband Steve, DerekB次元官网网址檚 dad Paul and his wife Tammy, DerekB次元官网网址檚 sister Paula Phillips and family, and numerous other relatives.
The family had already experienced tragedy just three years before DerekB次元官网网址檚 death when his brother Dustin was killed in a car accident.
Memories of both brothers are forever linked to a memorial cruise that started after DerekB次元官网网址檚 death and the DD memorial site on the road to Port Renfrew that has grown to include a pathway, garden, seating area and overall tributes. People linked to the pair make a habit of stopping there regularly.
B次元官网网址淭he Renfrew memorial cruise was our ritual to celebrate DerekB次元官网网址檚 life, but with COVID it will be cancelled for the second year,B次元官网网址� said Brenda. B次元官网网址淲e visit the site often in small groups, but itB次元官网网址檚 not the same.B次元官网网址�
Regardless, the site will always remain a place of healing.
B次元官网网址淓very time we drive up, we literally bump into somebody there spending the afternoon,B次元官网网址� said Brenda. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just totally surprised for how much respect people have for the site B次元官网网址� just seeing all the signatures, people from all over. I think this site is what saved us. ItB次元官网网址檚 a place so many people use.B次元官网网址�
There has also been a memorial ball tournament in honour of the brothers that ran for two years in 2018 and B次元官网网址�19 before also being halted by COVID.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just non-stop the respect all of his friends have for him,B次元官网网址� Brenda said. B次元官网网址淲e focus all that energy on positive thoughts and trying to be strong for all the people around us.B次元官网网址�
While thereB次元官网网址檚 no replacement for the losses, their family from all the friends has actually grown larger.
B次元官网网址淭hey all feel like my kids,B次元官网网址� said Brenda. B次元官网网址淔ive years later, his friends are starting to get engaged, buying houses, having babies and weB次元官网网址檙e sad that Derek never got to fulfill his dreams and we will never know what his life wouldB次元官网网址檝e looked like.B次元官网网址�
Her husband added his wife isnB次元官网网址檛 someone whoB次元官网网址檚 going to curl up on the couch.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to deal with it, but nothingB次元官网网址檚 going to change the fact heB次元官网网址檚 gone,B次元官网网址� reasoned Steve Smith.
Derek was very industrious and likely would have been well set up, approaching the age of 26.
The entire family has obviously followed JohnB次元官网网址檚 case very closely. He currently remains at the Colony Farm Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam, pending the continuation of his trial.
The prosecution side of the trial wrapped up in August of 2019 before the defence lobbied for an assessment of JohnB次元官网网址檚 mental fitness. He was deemed fit to continue by the Review Board in October of 2020.
There will be a formality this August for the court to confirm he is fit to stand trial thatB次元官网网址檚 due to resume in mid-November with the defence side of the case.
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