The family of a Chilliwack, B.C., couple shot dead in their home last month say they continue to feel re-victimized by the justice system’s handling of the pair’s accused killer.
John Kavaloff, 58, and Valerie Smith, 67, were found dead at their mobile home on Chilliwack Lake Road by officers responding to a shots-fired call on Sept. 13.
Robert Freeman, 83, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in their deaths. Police believe the killings were a result of a neighbours’ dispute.
Freeman’s case was in court Monday for procedural pre-trial matters, however Freeman himself did not attend, while his lawyers were there by video link.
Travis Finnigan, the slain couple’s son, said the fact Freeman didn’t have to attend the hearing was a “slap in the face.”
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“I feel victimized not only by Robert Freeman, I feel victimized by the judge, I feel victimized by the defence attorney, I feel victimized by the Crown,” he said.
“He doesn’t even need to come here and show his face, and yet we come here to find out what is going on. And it’s like he’s doesn’t even have to see the grief that he has caused, and what he has caused, because he’s at home,” added Joy Finnigan, the couple’s daughter-in-law.
“It makes me outraged at the system, the fact that he doesn’t even have to come here in person. That is not OK.”
Travis said he felt it was further unfair that the accused’s defence team appearing by video meant they didn’t have to look the victims’ families in the eyes.
The victims’ family has previously spoken out about Freeman being granted bail, despite the severity of the accusations against him.
He was released last month on multiple conditions, including that he live with his son at a housing complex about 20 minutes from the scene of the fatal shooting.
He’s also been ordered to stay more than 100 metres away from the crime scene, and banned from possessing a weapon or having contact with three individuals.
“I feel like the justice system has failed our family — we can’t even begin to start grieving because (Freeman) is out on bail, and he gets to live with his family, he gets to go home at night,” Travis Finnigan said Monday.
“We don’t get our family. It’s not fair. It’s not right; justice hasn’t been served, and we don’t get to start grieving.”
Neighbours have previously described Freeman as a quiet, reserved widower.
Freeman’s case is due back in court on Nov. 27.
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