Our story is similar to Bruno's story. Our daughter, in 1997, was killed by her peers and it made national and international headlines. That crime, especially in Victoria, a beautiful city...it was never heard of.
We as victims have suffered over 10 years of a legal ordeal and a quagmire, and we've felt that the system was too lenient for the criminals, especially when Kelly Ellard, who killed our daughter, got appeal after appeal. She exhausted all of her chances of appeal with the taxpayers' money and put our life on hold.
But we are glad that now the government is thinking of giving some attention to the victims as well, not only to the offenders, and I share my sentiments with Bruno that the law has to treat them like adults. If they are doing adult crimes, they have to be treated like adults. Also, when their names are published, people will know who they are so these young people cannot hide behind the law, because their slate will be clean no more.
We are involved with crime prevention in Victoria now. We go to different schools and communities and speak to the young people face to face, pleading with them to try to live a healthy, wholesome life, free from bullying and violence. It has an impact on people. I have also written a book that tells our story. We have developed a DVD, which focuses on young people, their violence and bullying, telling our story. So these are the tools that are very powerful, and I think it's making a difference in young people's lives.
We hope that we'll continue to do that and encourage our young people to inculcate good habits and live a wholesome life, rather than squandering their life on drugs, loneliness, alcohol, and bullying. In Victoria and in British Columbia there is enough awareness of bullying and violence now in the school system, and we are doing our part.
Now to my wife....