It鈥檚 been years, and she still can鈥檛 say his name.
That鈥檚 at least in part because despite being found guilty in the court of law for murder, Keith Wiens still doesn鈥檛 appear to have accepted responsibility for killing his then-common law spouse Lynn Kalmring.
In fact, Wiens has been fighting Kalmring鈥檚 family in a civil suit for some properties owned by the former couple 鈥� valued at about $500,000. Her sister, Donna Irwin, said the family was initially prepared to settle for a 50-50 split.
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鈥淚 can鈥檛 even say his name out loud; I still refer to him as the animal,鈥� said Irwin. 鈥淲hen I have to say his name out loud, it makes me get goose bumps everywhere. He鈥檚 just such an arrogant, bad dude.鈥�
Wiens was convicted of second-degree murder, after he shot Kalmring in the face just over six years ago in their Penticton home. From the beginning, Wiens has claimed self-defence, but in trial Crown evidence pointed to him planting a knife on Kalmring after her death. An appeal favoured the original decision.
The anniversary of Kalmring鈥檚 murder passed less than two weeks ago, on Aug. 16, all those years hasn鈥檛 made Kalmring鈥檚 sudden death any easier, especially as family members feel they have been revictimized throughout the process toward justice.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been six years this August, and it just keeps firing it back up every time this stuff comes up,鈥� Kalmring鈥檚 daughter Brandy Cummings said. 鈥淥f course, every time it comes up, it鈥檚 like refreshing, opening up that wound again.鈥�
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Kalmring鈥檚 estate, executed by Irwin, launched a lawsuit on Dec. 22, 2011 against Wiens for general and special damages, among other reliefs for the pain caused by the loss of their family member.
鈥淎s a result of the defendant鈥檚 wrongful act in murdering the deceased, the dependents and each of them have suffered and will continue to suffer damages,鈥� the lawsuit reads.
鈥淚n particular, each have suffered, and will continue to suffer loss of services, loss of support; loss of love, guidance and affection; loss of care and loss of inheritance.鈥�
Among the damages sought, Irwin said the family was seeking about half of the value of a property shared by Kalmring and Wiens, while the other half would go to Wiens.
鈥淗e鈥檚 just basically saying, 鈥楴o. She鈥檚 getting nothing, the estate鈥檚 getting nothing,鈥欌�� Irwin said.
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As the fight continues, Irwin said Wiens is self-representing in the case, and is fighting to take Irwin and the estate into a courtroom where the pair would go face-to-face.
鈥淪o he can interrogate me and my family as to why we think the estate should get any money,鈥� Irwin said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to get in front of a judge, and hopefully a judge can either set something up where, either the judge is going to make a decision, or (Wiens) is going to have to get a lawyer.鈥�
In a potential positive for the family, Irwin and Cummings said they don鈥檛 believe Wiens鈥� behaviour in the civil case will reflect well on him as he heads to a parole application after 13 years in prison.
But after watching the courts allow the civil case to drag on for six years and counting, costing the family nearly $50,000 in legal fees, Cummings said she鈥檚 having a hard time keeping faith in the justice system.
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鈥淩ight from the beginning, that鈥檚 what we were trying to fight for, is the victims should have a little more rights than they do,鈥� Cummings said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to be a voice for my mom, and it鈥檚 proving a lot harder than I ever expected.鈥�
The family brought their case to Dan Albas, then the member of Parliament for Okanagan-Coquihalla which represented the family, who took it to Parliament, but Irwin said she hasn鈥檛 seen any changes coming down the pike.
鈥淭he public certainly doesn鈥檛 realize what victims go through. You hear about the stories on the news and it鈥檚 sensationalized, and all the gory details of it all,鈥� Irwin said.
鈥淓verybody was interested then, but nobody鈥檚 interested now. Nobody really knows what happens after it鈥檚 all said and done, so I want to make sure that the public is aware.鈥�
The Western News has reached out to the family鈥檚 lawyers, but have not received comment as of publication.
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dustin.godfrey@pentictonwesternnews.com
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