A 琉璃神社 man accused of killing his young family appeared before a judge Thursday, making the first steps in what his lawyer says will likely be a lengthy court process.

Jacob Forman, 34, was charged with three counts of second degree murder for allegedly killing his wife Clara and two primary school age daughters, Karena and Yesenia, at some point between Sunday and Tuesday, according to court documents.

Forman said nothing during the process, but his lawyer did speak to the media.

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鈥淚t鈥檚 an extremely serious, very tragic situation,鈥� said Forman鈥檚 defence lawyer Glen Verdurmen.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know much about the case yet鈥� I will be receiving disclosure from the Crown and reviewing with my client. I wouldn鈥檛 expect the process to move very quickly. I am sure there are all sorts of forensic investigations, interviewing of witnesses that the police are going to be doing while they鈥檙e assessing the case at this point in time.鈥�

When asked, Verdurmen was reluctant to weigh in on the mental state of his client, noting that he鈥檚 holding up 鈥渄espite facing the worst possible thing you can be facing.鈥�

He also said it was too early to tell what position he鈥檇 be taking going forward or if Forman knew how he was going to plead. When Forman returns to court Jan. 18, 2018 Verdurmen said he鈥檚 unlikely to have a significantly clearer view on these issues.

While the legal process is just getting underway, so too is the community鈥檚 effort to deal with the loss.

Karena and Yesenia Forman were students at Heritage Christian Online School.

In a statement, the school extended their condolences to the friends and family of the girls and their mother.

鈥淎s our community mourns their loss, there are not adequate words to express our deep sorrow at this tragedy,鈥� reads the statement. 鈥淥ut of respect to the family鈥檚 privacy, we will not be making any further statement at this time but rather uplifting them in prayer.鈥�

The Forman鈥檚 appeared to be devout people.

In an interview with the Capital News, a high school friend of Jacob Forman said the couple met in Mexico at a Christian retreat.

Clara wrote about their meeting on Facebook and touched on their shared faith in that post.

鈥淢et in January, started dating in July, engaged Oct. 27, married three weeks later on Nov. 11 at sunset. When I married Jacob Forman I left everything I knew to come to Canada and build a life,鈥� she wrote, Nov. 11, 2015.

鈥淕od blessed our feeble efforts with good jobs, good friends, a great church family and most importantly, two of the best little humans a couple of people could ask for. Ten years later you are still the person I want to grow old with.鈥�

Friends of Clara are holding a Candlelight vigil Dec. 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Stuart Park by the Christmas tree.

鈥淭he Latin American Community in 琉璃神社 invites all residents to walk together against violence towards women,鈥� reads a Facebook post. 鈥淧lease bring a candle along. We are in this together.鈥�