Arlene Westervelt, 56, died three years ago and her body was recovered from Okanagan Lake.
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November 18, 2019 - 12:46 PM
Friends of Lake Country woman Arlene Westervelt are awaiting justice, “whatever that may look like.”
Gathered at the Kelowna Law Courts today, Nov. 18, for the scheduling of a preliminary hearing for Arlene’s accused killer, her husband Lambertus Westervelt, friends said that they will keep going to court to honour her.
"She doesn't have a voice, so we're here to support her and show our love, and just be there for her," Cathy Vissia, a friend of Arlene’s said outside the courtroom.
Vissia was among a group of six at the brief court date who were close to Arlene in life and she said she still feels the loss of her running buddy.
“She was active, vivacious, kind compassionate and always wanted to have the next adventure,” said Vissia. “She was very energetic, and a wonderful friend and I just miss her."
Arlene’s body was recovered June 27, 2016, from Okanagan Lake near Okanagan Centre, in Lake Country.
She had been canoeing with a man about 100 feet from shore, RCMP said in a press release at the time, when the canoe tipped over and she fell into the water. Neither person was wearing a lifejacket.
She was found in 35 feet of water, approximately 100 feet from the shore, by trained divers with the RCMP underwater recovery team.
Investigators initially thought Arlene's death was a tragic accident. But on April 6, 2019, Westervelt was arrested and charged with second degree murder.
The yet-to-be scheduled preliminary hearing is expected to last five weeks.
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