Family members “appalled” at bail decision in dismemberment case
Posted Jul 7, 2016 2:08 pm.
Last Updated Jul 7, 2016 3:09 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Family members of a 25-year-old woman whose body parts were found in a park in northeast Calgary say they are appalled with the decision to grant the accused in the case bail.
Remains of Joey English were found in Crescent Heights on June 8.
Police arrested 40-year-old Joshua Jordan Weise less than a week later. He was not charged with murder, as police do not believe English died due to a criminal act.
Instead, Weise was charged with one count of offering an indignity to human remains.
On Thursday afternoon, a judge granted Weise bail, something the English family says will only prolong the grieving process.
Brailon English, Joey’s cousin, called the hearing very one-sided.
“We were told that we would be presented more evidence, and that there would be more against the accused,” he said. “However, there was no evidence brought forward, and there was no real conversation.”
He also says, this is an example of a much larger issue.
“For as long as I can remember, the justice system absolutely caters towards the privileged, and towards non-Native people. It’s an undeniable truth that we have seen, and it’s quite evident in our society. But, people don’t want to hear that,” Brailon said.
“Often the media portrays [aboriginal women] as … they find some way to demonize them. I think that’s atrocious, and we need to be looking at the problem in our society that is causing this to happen to our people.”
Ahead of the hearing, more than a dozen people stood in a circle in front of the court house, playing handmade drums, singing and praying.
Brailon shared fond memories of his cousin.
“She was absolutely wonderful. Always positive. Every time I saw her, she was always laughing about the silliest things,” he said. “Just very compassionate, understanding of everybody.”
He adds, the most important thing to remember is that Joey was a mother, a daughter, a cousin, and above all else, a human being.
“Regardless of what happened to Joey, this is somebody’s life. This is somebody’s body that was defiled in the worst way,” he said. “The fact that we can’t even have a funeral right now, because we don’t have all of her, is extremely hard to deal with.”
The family is asking for understanding and respect at this time.
