Slain senior's neighbour commends police for arrest
Last Updated: Friday, November 6, 2009 | 12:57 PM MT
CBC News
Kim Robinson lived next door to Lillian Berube. (CBC)A neighbour of a slain Edmonton senior commended police Thursday for finally laying charges in her 1987 slaying.
"Full accolades to them. Pat on the back for sure. Often wondered how long it was going to take," said Kim Robinson who still lives next door to the house where Lillian Berube lived. "Wondered if if ever was going to happen."
Berube, 83, was viciously beaten during a home invasion in Aug. 1987. She died in hospital days after the attack.
On Wednesday police announced they had charged Charles Abou, 41, with second-degree murder in her slaying. After police received new information in September, they conducted more forensic tests which led to an arrest.
Abou made his first appearance in court on Thursday, when the matter was put over until Nov. 13.
Berube's neighbour Kim Robinson has fond memories of the elderly widow, who lived on her own in her northeast Edmonton home.
"She was out there cutting her grass at age 83 ... just doing what had to be done," Robinson said. "She was everybody's grandma. Just a really nice lady. She was like a grandma to me, adopted grandma. And nice friend. And everything."
Parole board documents show Abou has a lengthy criminal record. He was in a prison in Abbotsford, B.C., at the time he was arrested and charged in Berube's death. He is now being held at the Edmonton Remand Centre.
