Inquest into Ottawa Valley triple-murder hears from victims' family members
A coroner’s inquest into the murders of three Ottawa Valley women is underway in Pembroke.
Basil Borutksi killed Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam in September 2015 in the Renfrew County area. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Kuzyk and Warmerdam, and one count of second-degree murder in the strangling death of Culleton.
Borutski had relationships with all three women he murdered. Prior to the murders, he had twice spent time in jail after two of the victims had accused him of assault and uttering threats.
The coroner's inquest, which began Monday at the Best Western Pembroke Inn and Conference Centre, will examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, and may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths. It will last 15 days, and hear from approximately 30 witnesses.
“Some changes have to come out that make people safer; that make women safer,” said Zou Zou Kuzyk, Anastasia Kuzyk’s sister. “The day of her death is what’s coming back to me here.”
Kuzyk was the first to testify Monday. Natalie Warmerdam’s daughter Valerie also spoke Monday.
“You have to build a system that doesn’t only catch monsters… Because then it will always be too late,” she said.
Warmerdam described Borutski, who lived with the family for two years, as a “step-dad” who taught her how to pluck a chicken and cook a gizzard. She mentioned that how Borutski was viewed when her mother was killed was not how he was viewed before, even though her mother broke it off and people became aware she had gone to police.
“Friends of Basil’s and hers came over to the house and had conversations of how could you? How could you do this to him?”
Victims being made to feel guilty is just one of the issues the inquest hopes to tackle. Others include a criminal justice system that failed to convict Borutski’s history of abuse prior to triple murder.
“It would have come as a complete shock to Stasia that things could fall apart in that way, that systems could fail, and that’s what we have to change,” said Kuzyk.
Advocacy groups say this inquest is coming at a time when stressors leading to domestic violence are high.
“Incidents have gone up because of the pandemic,” said Joanne Brooks, coordinator at End Violence Against Women in Renfrew County.
Discussions have also touched on the rural culture of minding one’s own business and the relationship with gun culture.
At the end of the inquest, the five-person jury will be tasked with considering eight public policy issues. A lawyer will then turn it into a report with recommendations.
Borutski will die in prison. In 2017, then 60, he was handed a life sentence with no chance of parole for 70 years.
--With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Stefan Keyes, Josh Pringle, and Dylan Dyson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.