WATCH: The crown has wrapped up its case in the murder trial of Colin John. John is accused of the stabbing death of his neighbour and attempting to murder his neighbour’s girlfriend, in Chemainus in 2016. At times during the trial, the victim’s parents left the courtroom because the details have been so grisly but they’re hoping for justice for their son and his girlfriend. Kendall Hanson reports.
The family of the man stabbed to death two and a half years ago arrives again at the Duncan courthouse.
They’ve been coming daily for the past three and a half weeks. Listening, as prosecutors present the details about how Derek Descoteau died.
“We want justice for Derek and Janelle,” said Brenda Smith, Derek Descoteau’s mother.
“We don’t have Derek with us anymore but have Janelle and that girl has certainly been through a lot in the past few years.”
In May of 2016 Descoteau and his girlfriend, Janelle Guyatt, were watching a movie in his Chemainus home when a man suddenly burst in and began stabbing them.
Descoteau eventually died from multiple stab wounds, Guyatt was seriously injured.
Earlier a witness testified Descoteau identified one of his neighbours, Colin John, as the man who stabbed him. John was at the scene of the attack when police arrived and was quickly arrested.
John’s lawyer, Scott Sheets, says before starting the defence’s case he wants a doctor to mentally assess John. It means another delay for the victim’s families.
“We’re a little surprised that they want to do a not criminally responsible assessment and that won’t be done until March,” says Smith.
“We felt that we were finally going to get closure after two and a half years but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be any time soon. It’s going to be a little bit down the road but we are very confident from what we’ve heard inside the court that we will get justice.”
Descoteau’s mother says her heart goes out to the many people impacted by the attack which the court has yet to hear a motive for.
Another court date has been set for February to determine when the trial will resume.
Kendall Hanson
