VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Will the family and friends of Maple Batalia find some relief in knowing two men have been charged in the murder of the SFU student?

Many can hope to find a way to learn to live with it, says Tracey Porteous with the Ending Violence Association of BC. Porteous goes on to say that many do find some little bit of solace.

The relief can often be temporary, as she says the pain can be long-lasting. “I don’t think anybody ever gets over it. I don’t think you ever get to the other side of it. What people can hope for is to learn to live with this horrendous reality.”

Even though more than a year has passed since Maple Batalia’s death, she highly encourages family, friends and classmates to get the help needed to cope with such a violent killing.

Porteous says every person copes differently. “The reality is, to try to come to terms with something as unfathomable as the murder of somebody that you love… years can go by [and the] loss will remain very, very close to the surface.”

She adds the families and friends of victims shouldn’t be afraid to seek support even if it’s years after such a horrible death.