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Tuesday, September 25, 2001

Karman's death still an open wound for family:
TENSION WAS THICK AS TWO CLANS MEET IN COURT

Lisa Gregoire, Journal Staff Writer
The Edmonton Journal

The Willis family, who numbered nine, came in first and sat on the right, twisting around to stare every time the door at the back of the courtroom opened. When the Trickle Creek clan entered -- women in dresses and head scarves, men in tidy shirts and pants -- the eyes and lips of the Willis family narrowed to slits as they watched a dozen enemies take seats across the room.

In the three years since the Willis's youngest daughter Karman, 16, was shot dead on Wiebo Ludwig's Trickle Creek farm, their rage has only multiplied. And here, sitting in the same room for the first time ever with the people they believe know who is responsible for her death, it vibrates from their clenched jaws and side-long glances. For an excruciating hour, the two groups sat separated by three metres of carpet, waiting for lawyers to give news of a possible plea bargain for a January assault by Karman's brother Derek against Ludwig's son-in-law Trevor Schilthuis. "What are you staring over here for?" Geddie Willis spat out to one of the Ludwigs. His mother Barbara implored him to stay quiet. Eventually, charges were dropped against Derek in exchange for a peace bond requiring him to stay away from his victim and the families of Trickle Creek for a year. He must also write an apology to Schilthuis by next Monday. But this bargain will not cool the rage.

The Willis family will not rest until someone at Trickle Creek confesses to shooting Karman on June 20, 1999 -- the day they stopped believing in justice. Derek, 32, said only two words before driving away from the courthouse. He pulled a pin from his sweater and spoke its message: "Remember Karman." Schilthuis, 28, also said little as he left with his pregnant wife Harmony and two of their four children. "There's more at stake, not just with my family but with the man's feelings," he said. "We all make mistakes. If he's sincere in his apology, then that's fine." Karman was shot at about 4:30 a.m. as she and her friends were joyriding at Trickle Creek. Ludwig called 911 after gunshots were fired to report the trespassers. He said police would be able to recognize the trucks from the bullet holes. When asked whether he had shot them, he replied: "Someone shot at them, yes."

RCMP have conducted extensive surveillance, interviewed dozens of witnesses and even recovered from Trickle Creek what they believe was the rifle used in the shooting. But they still haven't figured out who pulled the trigger. RCMP Supt. Dennis Massey hasn't given up. "As long as that file is unresolved, we will not give up," he said. Willis was charged last January with assaulting Schilthuis and threatening bodily harm or death after allegedly attacking him at a Beaverlodge gas station. If Willis fails to comply with his peace bond, he could be charged anew and fined $2,000. "We were obviously not interested in sticking it to the Willises and never have (been)," said Richard Boonstra who, together with Ludwig, leads the eco-religious commune near Hythe, about 600 km northwest of Edmonton. Boonstra and Ludwig were convicted last year of charges related to oilpatch vandalism.

Ludwig will probably be released from the Grande Cache minimum security jail in mid-November.

Lisa Gregoire the Edmonton Journal 780-498-5837