Nothing can convey her daughter again, however Garnita Van Tassell, is hoping her household will lastly get some justice because the preliminary listening to started Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, for 4 of the lads accused within the killing of her daughter, 37-year-old Tara Miller.
Miller’s body was found on March 30, 2023, in a area on the intersection of Freeway 522 and 128 Road close to Okotoks, Alta.
Because the preliminary listening to started, the Crown introduced manslaughter costs in opposition to Greg Schuster, Jared Burke and Shyana Popplestone had been upgraded to first diploma homicide.
The fourth particular person in courtroom on Thursday, Gurpreet Gill, was already dealing with a cost of first diploma homicide.
Get day by day Nationwide information
Get the day’s prime information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
Two different males, charged in Miller’s demise, will seem in courtroom at a later date.
As proceedings started, outdoors the courtroom Miller’s mom, sister, a number of cousins and different supporters gathered collectively, holding photographs of Miller and sporting shirts bearing the slogan “Justice for Tara”.
For Miller’s mom, being within the courtroom, was the primary time she had seen the accused face-to-face.
“She was my child, my youngest, I solely had two, and I have to be right here for her,” stated Van Tassell.
Miller’s sister stated the household had been ready a very long time for at the present time.
“I simply don’t need them to neglect her identify,” stated Jennifer Miller.
“She lit up a room. Very vocal and opinionated. Simply the most effective buddy you may ever have.”
As painful as they anticipate the courtroom proceedings to be, her cousin, Monica Blair, is assured the household will lastly get some justice.
“It’s ripping the band-aid off time and again, however we’re right here, we’re going to get some solutions,” Blair stated.
“It doesn’t matter what occurs by means of any of the proceedings now, by means of the following yr, or nonetheless lengthy it takes it gained’t be sufficient,” stated Van Tassell.
The preliminary listening to, which can decide whether or not there may be ample proof to proceed to trial is predicted to final 5 days.
The main points and proof introduced through the listening to is beneath a publication ban.
© 2025 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
Source link