Warning: this article may contain content that is distressing for some readers.
There were tears, hugs, and bittersweet remembrances at the London Courthouse on Thursday.
The courtroom filled up quickly and early as family, friends, and neighbours of the Afzaals gathered to speak about their loss.
It was the first day of Nathaniel Veltman's sentencing hearing.
He was convicted in November of the first-degree murder of Talat Afzaal, 74, her son Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, and their 15-year-old daughter Yumnah Afzaal. He was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Salman and Madiha's son.
The boy was 9 years old on June 6, 2021, when Veltman intentionally drove his black Dodge Ram pickup truck into the family.
Madiha's mother, Tabinda Bukhari, was the first to speak about the trauma their entire extended family has experienced since the attack.
"They were the most loving, caring, gentle souls," Bukhari described. "It's deeply troubling to hear them referred to as 'victims.' They're not merely statistics. They were living, breathing human beings having hearts and souls, having ambitions and expectations, having hopes and dreams, dreams that were shattered at that intersection," she added.
Bukhari explained that her family was already reeling at the time of her daughter's death, as her husband had died six months before. She said she's had to "uproot" herself from the home she shared with her husband and family to care for her orphaned grandson in Canada.
She also said that she's lost weight, and has difficulty sleeping due to her grief. "I miss them every second of the day," Bukhari shared.
She was also the first of many to describe how the sight or sound of a pickup truck leaves her terrified when she goes for a walk.
Sidra Jamal, Madiha's sister-in-law, said that she feels grateful every time she isn't attacked when she goes out. "I shouldn't have to thank a driver for not running over me like I'm road kill," she added. She also said that wearing her Hijab often makes her feel like "a walking bullseye."
Hina and Ali Islam, Madiha's aunt and uncle, said that they made a last-minute decision on that fateful night not to leave their children with the Afzaal family while they went out to dinner. They're both now consumed by the "what ifs."
"Would the offender have thought twice if there had been so many children? Or would he have charged even harder?" Ali asked.
Veltman visibly flinched when this was asked. It was one of the few reactions he showed during the day of testimonials. He spent most of the time staring straight ahead or at the screens that showed victims giving their statements via Zoom.
Ali was the one who had to tell the youngest Afzaal that his family hadn't survived the attack.
"Not even one?" he recalled the injured boy asking.
"What words could I possibly say?" he asked.
Several young members of the Afzaal's extended family got on the witness stand to make statements. Two of them are only two years older than the boy seriously injured and orphaned by Veltman's actions.
Hina and Ali's youngest son stated that before the incident things such as his favourite hockey team losing a game felt like the end of the world, and now he's afraid to even wear his own last name on the back of his jersey.
Madiha's niece, said that her survivor's guilt is so strong she's thought of suicide many times in the last two and a half years. "These aren't thoughts an 11-year-old should have," she said.
Everyone who spoke on Thursday agreed on two things, their sense of safety and security has been ripped away from them and that the murders would never have happened if Veltman had spoken to any of the Afzaals even once.
Victim impact statements will continue on Friday, court resumes at 10 a.m.
