A trial date for the former nurse accused of killing eight nursing home residents in Woodstock and London will be set in two weeks.
Elizabeth Wettlaufer appeared in Woodstock court by video link from the Vanier Centre for Woman in Milton on Friday. Wearing her usual dark green jumpsuit, Wettlaufer stated only her name during the brief appearance.
Defence lawyer Brad Burgess told the court Wettlaufer is waiving her right to a preliminary hearing, which was also agreed upon by Crown Fraser Kelly. The decision to skip the preliminary hearing accelerates the case straight to trial.
Justice of the Peace Michael McMahon put the case over until April 21, when Wettlaufer will appear to set a date for the trial.
Wettlaufer was arrested on October 25 and charged with eight counts of first degree murder in the deaths of seven residents of Caressant Care in Woodstock and one resident of Meadow Park nursing home in London. The eight residents ranged in age from 75-96 and died between 2007-2014.
Additional charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault were laid against Wettlaufer on January 13, the last time she made a court appearance in person. Those charges relate to residents of long-term care homes in Woodstock and Paris, as well as a private home in Oxford County.
Laura Jackson, Susan Horvath, and Andrea Silcox, stand outside of the Woodstock courthouse after Elizabeth Wettlaufer's appearance, April 7, 2017. (Photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News.)
Family and friends of Wettlaufer's alleged victims see Friday's proceedings as a significant step in the right direction.
"We're very anxious to have this heard. We're very anxious to see justice served," said Laura Jackson, friend of alleged victim Maurice Granat. "This woman took a loved one from us and that's not right. She didn't have the right. We want to see the trial done as quickly as possible."
Jackson spoke to reporters outside of the courthouse following Wettlaufer's appearance. She stood side-by-side with Andrea Silcox and Susan Horvath, whose fathers are also among the alleged victims.
"We're all here together to support each other. We keep in contact outside of court and it's helping," said Jackson.
Horvath said while the speed with which the justice system is moving is taking its toll on her, she couldn't help but feel her father, Arpad Horvath, and the other victims would be pleased with Friday's development.
"They are all looking down at us, looking happy that we can go forward," said Horvath. "Even if it's a little step, it's a big step."
Silcox, who works at an Oxford County nursing home, is optimistic the trial will help alleviate growing fears about long-term care homes.
"Hopefully people will see that all long-term care facilities are not the same and not all nurses are bad," said Silcox, the daughter of James Silcox who died at Caressant Care in Woodstock in August 2007.
