'The pain will never go away': Family, friends describe impact of Charlotte Lafferty's murder

In a makeshift courtroom in the Fort Good Hope community hall, the sad aftermath of Charlotte Lafferty's violent death was spelled out over three hours.

In victim impact statements presented last week, her family and friends spoke of the depression, loneliness, heartache and despair they're coping with, almost two and a half years after she was killed.

"I don't know when was the last time I was happy," wrote one of Lafferty's younger sisters. "I can't concentrate at school. I think of my sister every day. I stay at home a lot. I barely communicate with my friends. I'm always depressed."

The 23-year-oldLaffertywas beaten to death behind the community's seniors residence in the early morning of March 22, 2014. The victim impact statements are part of the first degree murder sentencing of the man who killed her. He was 17 years old then, and cannot be identified. The prosecutor wants him sentenced as an adult.

'The pain will never go away'

Lafferty's father, Rudolph Kochon, was among the 19 people from the community of 570 to file statements.

"I'm finding it difficult to comprehend what happened to my girl," he said. "It's difficult to be alone and to function normally. I am overwhelmed with hurt, anger, helplessness, hopelessness and sadness."

Several of the friends who filed statements describedLaffertyas their best friend. They talk about how caring a mother she was, how much fun she was to be around because of her joking and teasing.

"Charlotte my friend had a heart as big as the world," wrote one. "I'm haunted by images of how she was brutally taken from me."

Another wrote, "That day my body shut down. I haven't been the same person since. I am depressed, numb and angry. The pain will never go away."

Trust shattered

Some of the people who filed statements saidthey don't know how to deal with their sadness, spend a lot of time alone, and feel even sadder when they think of her children growing up to find out how they lost their mother.

In a statement about the impact the murder has had on the community, Aurora McNeely said elders and women are afraid to walk alone, especially on trails, and there is less trust in the community. She said elders are afraid to sleep alone in the seniors residence near the scene of the murder.

• Elders watched helplessly while woman beaten to death

A mental health worker in the community saidafter Lafferty's death the health centre was "flooded" with appointments from people suffering physical illness because of the emotional stress they were struggling with.

The sentencing hearing for the man who killed Lafferty will be held Jan. 9 to 13 in Yellowknife.