Rocked by the charges of a former next-door neighbour charged in the death of his severely disabled brother, Donna-Lee Frankland says she wishes she knew about the deceased, Jamie Hawley.
Frankland is a caregiver for seniors and the disabled -- a profession that Jamie's caregiver, Jerry Hawley, knew about -- and says she could have stepped in to help if Jerry needed it.
"I lived in that apartment . . . (but I) never saw him," says Frankland, who says she knew nothing about 41-year-old Jamie until the charges were laid.
The OPP say in May 2008, Jamie died of starvation, pneumonia and infected bed sores.
The circumstances around the case are still unkown, and the charges have not been proven in court. Jerry, 36, is charged with first-degree murder, but his family and lawyer maintain his innocence.
It took two years to lay the charges due to the need to gather medical evidence, the police say. Jamie was confined to a wheelchair at the time of his daeth.
The Prescott resident will remain behind bars until his next court appearance, March 19.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem
