One by one, members of Denise Bourdeau’s family took the stand Friday to explain the effect the murder of a loved one had on their own lives.
“I finally got to tell him what he’s done and how it’s affected our family – and personally, how it’s affected me and what he’s taken from me,” daughter Jessica Haner said outside court.
Haner was 14 when Bourdeau disappeared after leaving a New Year’s party to ring in 2007.
Her remains were found along the banks of the Grand River a few months later, but it wasn’t until 2011 that David Thomas – Bourdeau’s on-again, off-again boyfriend in a relationship marred by alcohol and violence – was arrested and charged with murder.
This past March, a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder, which carries an automatic life sentence.
His parole eligibility was discussed at Friday’s sentencing hearing, with the Crown seeking a 17-year decision and the defence suggesting 13 or 14 years.
Defence lawyers argued that Thomas is able to show kindness and generosity – an opinion echoed by a former neighbour outside court.
“I think they paint him a little too black,” Ann Josling said.
Also speaking Friday was Bourdeau’s mother, Amy Miller.
Speaking outside court, she said the murder had “completely and totally torn (her) family apart” – and acknowledged similar pain being experienced by Thomas’ family.
“We’ve got now, instead of one broken family … we’ve got two broken families, because somebody chose to murder instead of separate,” she said.
The hearing resumes in June, with a decision expected in July.
Thomas, 52, has filed an appeal of his conviction.
