Stephanie Ibbott says she wasn’t about to let a court delay deter her and about 30 supporters from expressing their frustration with the justice system in its handling of the murder of her cousin-in-law, Trina Hunt.
Wednesday morning, the group gathered on the lower steps in front of BC Provincial Court in Port Coquitlam, despite a last-minute delay in court proceedings April 23 for Hunt’s husband, Iain, who’s been charged with indignity to human remains in connecting with her death in January 2021.
Many of the group held hand-drawn signs or professionally printed placards, calling for the justice system to do better or for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) to persist a pursuit for more serious charges. Some clutched bunches of purple tulips, Ibbott said were Trina Hunt’s favourite flowers in her favourite colour.
“It’s been four years, we’ve been waiting patiently,” she said, adding the charge laid against Iain Hunt after four years of intense investigation is “not justice.”
“It’s just baffling, infuriating and devastating,” Ibbott said.
Iain Hunt, 52, was charged on Feb. 4, more than four years after he’d reported his wife missing from their Port Moody home on Jan. 18, 2021.
An intense search by police, friends, family, community volunteers and even Coquitlam Search and Rescue, failed to find her until human remains were located near Hope on March 29, 2021, then positively identified as Trina Hunt a month later.
Shortly thereafter, IHIT executed search warrants on two homes, in Port Moody and Mission, and in June, 2022 a man was arrested but later released without charges.
Ibbott said the years since Trina Hunt's disappearance, which have included the announcement of a $50,000 reward for information about her murder, public vigils and annual reminders from investigators about their efforts to bring charges, have been difficult.
“You hope the justice system will do people right,” she said. “It’s not enough.”
Marla Clark, who organized Wednesday’s rally, said it was important for friends, family, neighbours and co-workers to show their support for Trina Hunt.
“We are going to be here for Trina,” Clark said of her late friend whom she first met when they worked together in 1995.
Clark said the display is also a call to bring attention to the often hidden issue of domestic violence and femicide, the killing of women, usually committed by men.
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