Life of Maple Batalia celebrated on anniversary of death
Posted September 28, 2013 8:56 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – Tonight, hundreds are expected to gather in Surrey to remember local women who have been brutally murdered.
Today marks two years since 19-year-old Maple Batalia was killed and her family says they’re using the day to celebrate her life.
Her sister Roseleen says tonight’s event is also to raise awareness about violence against women. “We’re just a normal family and everything was great. This can happen to anyone. The only way to explain how it feels is basically, you’re living like a homicide film.”
“Although we are trying to do all these positive things in the community, the sad reality is that Maple will not come back, she never got a second chance. We want to give a second chance to anyone who may be in similar positions or affected by violence, we want them to know there is a way out,” she adds.
Two men have been charged with Batalia’s murder, but the case is still in the courts. Roseleen is hoping her parents will live long enough to see justice done.
Some of the other people being remembered tonight include Manjit Panghali and Poonam Randhawa. The ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. at Holland Park.
One Surrey councillor is pushing for legislation to keep victims of domestic abuse safe.
Barinder Rasode wants everyone to feel safe in their own homes, but that’s not the case right now. “We have implemented a number of strategies. We’ve had good success with our Domestic Violence Unit with the RCMP, but now we’d really like some legislation to back up some of that work, like reallocating more resources to those areas.”
Rasode wants practical solutions, more resources and support, which she says will go a long way. “Not only for the victims, but also for the accused. We’d also like the federal government to look at harsher sentences for those that are in a position of committing the abuse.”
