Sage Hill quadruple homicide victims' families drawn to each other at courthouse 'like a magnetic pole'

There are few people in the world who understand Troy Pfeiffer's pain, but when the grieving father ran into two sisters at the Calgary Courts Centre on Wednesday, he was drawn to them and the three shared a hug.

"It was like a magnetic pole," said Pfeiffer of the meeting. "Their feelings and their hearts are totally 100 per cent like ours right now, like feeling lost."

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The body of Troy's son Cody Pfeiffer was discovered in a burned-out car in the northwest community of Sage Hill in July alongside the remains of sisters Tiffany Ear and Glynnis Fox. Two days later, Hanock Afowerk's remains were found just outside city limits.

Tewodros Kebede, 25, and Yu Chieh Liao, 25, are charged with first-degree murder in the death of Afowerk and accessories after the fact in the deaths of Ear, Fox and Pfeiffer. The pair made a brief court appearance on Wednesday. 

The disclosure — evidence gathered by police which the prosecution must now hand over to defence lawyers — is "massive," consisting of about 70,000 files, court heard Wednesday. 

Pfeiffer's mother, father, brother and grandmother were in court Wednesday for the appearance, making the two-hour drive from Barons near Lethbridge. 

When they arrived, Ear and Fox's sisters were also at the courthouse.

The two families met for the first time.

"It was very important," said Pfeiffer. "We needed to make this connection."

"They're in the same boat and they want the same thing, just proper justice."

Pfeiffer says the two families exchanged contact information and now plan to stay in touch.

Homicide charges have not been laid in connection with the three victims found in the vehicle, although police said in October that the investigation is "full steam ahead."

All six people — the four victims and the two accused — were known to each other, police have said.

On Wednesday, Kebede made an appearance over closed-circuit TV, while Liao's attendance was excused. 

Defence lawyers Susan Karpa and Stacey Tan told provincial court Judge Heather Lamoureaux they still hadn't received full disclosure.

"It is a massive file," said prosecutor Heather Morris, who told the parties the Crown's office hoped to hand over more files before Christmas.

Kebede and Liao remain in custody and will be back in court at the end of January. Troy Pfeiffer says he'll make the trek again, for his son who "was everything."

"We're going to be here every single court day. It's not a waste. It's all for the good."