Nephew of 1981 Hamilton murder victim to attend unprecedented trial in Kitchener
Karl Werendowicz says the family fell apart after the murder
Karl Werendowicz plans to be in Kitchener court with his mother on a weekly basis to hear witness testimony in the first-degree murder trial of Robert Badgerow.
Karl was just 10 year old when his aunt, Diane Werendowicz, was found dead in a ravine in Hamilton in 1981. After 35 years, her death still affects him and the remaining members of his family and they want show that through their presence at the Superior Court trial.
If you've been through it once it's hard to go through it three or four times.....It's important that we come to show that we do care and that she is part of our thoughts.- Karl Werendowicz
He spoke about the family's efforts to attend after hearing what he felt was criticism for his family not being in the Kitchener courthouse every day.
He says it's the best he can do in the early stages of the court case as he works afternoons about a 90 minute drive, one way, from the court.
'Hard for him to deal with'
The courtroom in the fourth trial of Badgerow has had only a handful of reporters and various members of the curious public who have joined to watch the proceedings since it began.
Karl Werendowicz and his mother sat recently in the courtroom to hear testimony, but most importantly to show they still care and that his Aunt Diane is in their thoughts.
"People may criticize us for not being there," Karl said.
"If you've been through it once it's hard to go through it three or four times. But now it seems because of criticism from people who don't think we care, it's important that we come to show that we do care and that she is part of our thoughts."
His father is Diane's brother. Karl's parents sat through the first case in 2001 but says they did not attend the last two cases saying it was too hard for them to deal with it.
Karl Werendowicz says he plans to take time off work for the closing arguments and when the final verdict is read.
Family fell apart
Werendowicz says his family basically fell apart after the murder. His grandparents moved to British Columbia and he only saw his grandmother just before her death in 2000. His grandfather died in 1992.
"We just went home and dealt with it," Werendowicz said. "It's been very hard and very trying for us to get through this and our thoughts are always there. It never goes away."
The remaining members of the family, including Karl's parents who are in their late 60's, his sister and his children, live in Ontario.