Three individuals charged in an alleged home invasion made their second appearance in Estevan provincial court on Dec. 1.
Weyburn resident Ayla Dawn Lynn Schachtel was remanded in custody until Dec. 19 when a show-cause hearing is expected. Both Peter McQuinn of Weyburn and former Weyburn resident Joseph Debigare were remanded until show-cause hearings on Dec. 22.
The three individuals were arrested on Nov. 27 and are charged with break and enter and committing an indictable offence of assault with a weapon. Debigare is also charged with evading police in a vehicle.
All three accused are currently represented by Legal Aid.
The father of the victims remains concerned for the safety of his family. They are all still shaken up by the event.
Charles Hein spoke to the Mercury last week. He was not in the house but said two of his sons and their girlfriends were at the residence in the early evening on Nov. 27, along with his ex-wife and eight-month-old granddaughter.
The incident forced one of his son's girlfriends, who was about seven months pregnant, to go into labour. With the baby eight weeks premature, there were some complications, but he said the mother and baby are doing well now.
Hein said he and his family are concerned about the alleged attackers being released on bail, with hearings expected to come up later this month. He said his concern for the safety of his family has been his highest priority.
"It was my babies in there and my grandbabies. There's a lot of emotional hurt," he said.
He's now considering getting more secure deadbolt locks on the doors and has been investigating alarm systems to add further protection for his family.
The family's dog was another victim of the alleged attack. Hein said the dog was struck in the head with a sledgehammer, its eye popped due to the blow. The dog went in for emergency surgery, and the eye is now stitched shut. Hein said it may need to be removed, and the veterinarian will monitor the dog in the coming weeks to see if that's necessary.
Hein said that along with the sledgehammer, a knife was also used in the attack.
Hein's ex-wife called him after the incident to tell him what happened. When he got to the house, the police were on the scene, and he said his family was in "hysterical rage," angry and upset by what just happened.
Hein and members of his family have attended court both days the accused have appeared, but the accused, who remain in custody, have so far made brief appearances, called into the courtroom only when their matters are ready to be dealt with.
He said they have never experienced anything like this before, and added, "I hope we never have to experience it again."
