含羞草研究社

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B.C. man killed in Peru remembered by neighbours as 含羞草研究社榮piritual, loving, kind and polite含羞草研究社

Those who knew him say accusations are incomprehensible
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Although it has been more than two years since Sebastian Woodroffe moved from his Tull Avenue home in Courtenay, his death in Peru has affected many of his neighbours, some of whom call him 含羞草研究社渇amily.含羞草研究社

Woodroffe, 41, travelled to Peru to study hallucinogenic medicine and was killed last month by a mob in a remote corner of the Amazon rainforest after people blamed him for the shooting death of an elderly shaman, authorities said.

But for those who lived near him for more than eight years, the concept of Woodroffe killing anyone - especially with a gun - is incomprehensible.

含羞草研究社淚 just don含羞草研究社檛 believe that he would do that; it含羞草研究社檚 not his nature,含羞草研究社 said Mickey Montgomery, Woodroffe含羞草研究社檚 neighbour. 含羞草研究社淵ou never even saw him raise a hand to his dog. As long as I saw Sebastian, I含羞草研究社檝e never seen him do a mean or cruel thing, or even talk that way. He was always trying to help.含羞草研究社

Describing him as 含羞草研究社渟piritual, loving, kind and polite,含羞草研究社 Betty (who asked her last name not be used) lived across the road from Woodroffe for many years. She says he touched the lives of so many people in the Valley, within her neighbourhood and beyond.

含羞草研究社淚 remember him willingly helping my very elderly husband - so easily [focusing on] his needs and doing what would be helpful - with such respect and kindness.含羞草研究社

She recalls watching Woodroffe spend countless hours with his son, teaching him about various things in nature.

含羞草研究社淗e was a beautiful soul 含羞草研究社 part of our grief is that this was all put on tape - on the internet, on television. And his little son is going to have to live with that. In this day and age, it含羞草研究社檚 so cruel.含羞草研究社

Peru含羞草研究社檚 attorney general含羞草研究社檚 office said Woodroffe was dragged by the neck shortly after the killing of Olivia Arevalo, an octogenarian plant healer from the Shipibo-Konibo tribe of northeastern Peru.

Arevalo and Woodroffe were both killed in the Indigenous community of Victoria Gracia, officials said. But police did not begin to investigate until a cellphone video appeared in local media showing a man purported to be Woodroffe begging for mercy while being dragged between thatch-roofed homes. He was then left motionless on the muddy ground.

含羞草研究社淗e revered (Avrevalo) - he went to study with her,含羞草研究社 added Betty. 含羞草研究社淗e was all about healing - why would he do that? It doesn含羞草研究社檛 make sense. He didn含羞草研究社檛 have that hatred and anger in him anyway; he was always respectful to everyone. He had gone purposely there to study and help others - there含羞草研究社檚 no motivation.含羞草研究社

She said her concern is that Woodroffe has been made a scapegoat in an isolated community already under siege by large corporations.

Neighbour Lesley Johnson noted in a written statement Woodroffe含羞草研究社檚 life was far from ordinary.

含羞草研究社淗e never became comfortable with a traditional family or the expectations of Western culture on what a man should become. He was not traditional in any sense of the word, and perhaps this isolated him somewhat from the conservative values that surrounded him. He was also strong-willed and opinionated, though never aggressive, and he enjoyed discussions with people who had widely different perspectives from him.含羞草研究社

She said she knew him to display true kindness, for his fellow man and for all creatures large and small. She said he showed love and respect, always cherishing the moment, exhibited a sense of play and experimentation and a 含羞草研究社渕arvelous wonder for the natural world.

含羞草研究社淚 remember him with fondness and with deep sadness for how he met his end.含羞草研究社

On April 28, the Canadian Press reported two people were arrested in connection with Woodroffe含羞草研究社檚 death.



Erin Haluschak

About the Author: Erin Haluschak

Erin Haluschak is a journalist with the Comox Valley Record since 2008. She is also the editor of Trio Magazine...
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