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 Descoteau含羞草研究社檚 dad含羞草研究社檚 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, Descoteau含羞草研究社檚 friends remain a constant source of comfort to his family.

含羞草研究社淲e are still so thankful that Derek含羞草研究社檚 friends have continued to welcome us into their lives 含羞草研究社� so many stories, memories, tears and laughs,含羞草研究社� noted mom Brenda Smith of Duncan. 含羞草研究社淛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. She含羞草研究社檚 just a beautiful girl inside and out, she is a hard worker and is now focused on her future.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淎s the five-year anniversary approaches, all the intense emotions that we first experienced on that horrific day come rushing back 含羞草研究社� it seems like yesterday.含羞草研究社�

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 含羞草研究社� 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, Derek含羞草研究社檚 dad Paul and his wife Tammy, Derek含羞草研究社檚 sister Paula Phillips and family, and numerous other relatives.

The family had already experienced tragedy just three years before Derek含羞草研究社檚 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 Derek含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淭he Renfrew memorial cruise was our ritual to celebrate Derek含羞草研究社檚 life, but with COVID it will be cancelled for the second year,含羞草研究社� said Brenda. 含羞草研究社淲e visit the site often in small groups, but it含羞草研究社檚 not the same.含羞草研究社�

Regardless, the site will always remain a place of healing.

含羞草研究社淓very time we drive up, we literally bump into somebody there spending the afternoon,含羞草研究社� said Brenda. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e just totally surprised for how much respect people have for the site 含羞草研究社� just seeing all the signatures, people from all over. I think this site is what saved us. It含羞草研究社檚 a place so many people use.含羞草研究社�

There has also been a memorial ball tournament in honour of the brothers that ran for two years in 2018 and 含羞草研究社�19 before also being halted by COVID.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 just non-stop the respect all of his friends have for him,含羞草研究社� Brenda said. 含羞草研究社淲e focus all that energy on positive thoughts and trying to be strong for all the people around us.含羞草研究社�

While there含羞草研究社檚 no replacement for the losses, their family from all the friends has actually grown larger.

含羞草研究社淭hey all feel like my kids,含羞草研究社� said Brenda. 含羞草研究社淔ive years later, his friends are starting to get engaged, buying houses, having babies and we含羞草研究社檙e sad that Derek never got to fulfill his dreams and we will never know what his life would含羞草研究社檝e looked like.含羞草研究社�

Her husband added his wife isn含羞草研究社檛 someone who含羞草研究社檚 going to curl up on the couch.

含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檝e got to deal with it, but nothing含羞草研究社檚 going to change the fact he含羞草研究社檚 gone,含羞草研究社� 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 John含羞草研究社檚 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 John含羞草研究社檚 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 that含羞草研究社檚 due to resume in mid-November with the defence side of the case.

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