Thursday, June 19, 2008

*Pastor calls horrific family murder-suicide a 'perplexing medical tragedy'*

James Stevenson, THE CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY CANADA- A "perplexing medical tragedy" was behind the horrific
murder suicide of a young Calgary family that left five dead, mourners
were told Thursday.

Three weeks after Joshua Lall slaughtered his wife, two young daughters
and a basement tenant, Pastor Miriam Mollering's brief summation of the
horrific crime might be as close to an answer as anyone ever gets.

Mollering led the memorial in which hundreds of people gathered at a
Calgary church to laugh, cry and pay their respects to the Lalls.

And despite their tragic end, all the stories told of a happy young
family that never uttered a cross word in public and who all loved each
other dearly.

A slide show depicted the family always smiling, going on hiking trips
or ski lessons, carving pumpkins, playing soccer and blowing out
birthday cakes.

They heard of young, sensitive Kristen, 5, and her love of soccer. And
there was much talk of her precocious three-year-old sister, Rochelle,
who was always on the move.

Police say Joshua Lall killed tenant Amber Bowerman first with multiple
stab wounds, then went upstairs to kill his wife and daughters Kristen,
5 and three-year-old Rochelle.

He then turned the knife on himself, dying in the baby's room nearby the
crib where one-year-old Anna was found unharmed the next day.

Police have offered no explanation for the "domestic homicide" and are
still awaiting toxicology tests.

Rob Adamson, a friend a co-worker of Joshua's at the Calgary
architecture firm where he worked, described him as "a friend to
everyone and respected by all for his kind and gentle nature."

In the days after the tragedy, speculation was rampant that despite his
outward appearance of normalcy, Joshua Lall's mental health was failing.

Family friend Dr. Katherine Kavanagh alluded to Joshua facing a
potential mental illness in her eulogy, but didn't mention it by name.

""As we celebrate the lives of this loving family I'm sure that most of
you have come to realize that we are here today because of a medical
condition," she said.

"This medical condition could affect any one of us. However, unlike
other medical problems like heart disease, diabetes, the majority of us
probably do not know what the risk factors are, what the warning signs
are, what we should tell our doctors, when and how to get some immediate
help that we may need.

"If we could ask Joshua and Alison I'm sure that they would tell you
that they thought they were doing everything right. And that they did
not know or understand the gravity of the situation. The vast majority
of us would have done exactly the same thing that they did."

The Lall's extended families issued a statement through Mollering,
saying they were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the
people of Calgary.

"And certainly together as families they desire to honour the lives of
Joshua, Alison, Rochelle and Kristen by having this public service
today," Millering said.

"So that together as a community, a city and a family we can help one
another find hope in the midst of horrendous loss and despair."

A similar memorial for the Lalls was also held in Guelph, Ont., last
week where the two met as students.

A funeral for Bowerman, a 30-year-old freelance journalist who had
recently moved into the Lall's basement, was held two weeks ago.