By Chelsea Laskowski

Family holds back tears at murder accused’s court appearance

Sep 17, 2014 | 12:15 PM

A man accused of a murder that shocked the family and friends of a Prince Albert man made a quick appearance at Prince Albert Provincial Court on Wednesday morning.

Trevor Cook, 41, faces charges of second-degree murder after he was arrested on Tuesday afternoon. He wore a button-up shirt and looked straight ahead in the prisoner’s box, showing little emotion.

Cory Brown, 43, was found dead in a West Flat home on Sept. 6.

Outside of the courthouse, his brother Curtis Brown described his reaction to news that it was a homicide.

“He didn’t deserve this… basically this shouldn’t be taking place because Cory was never involved in anything.”

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Curtis said he’d never met Cook before, and the family is still piecing together how Cory ended up where he was and who he was with the night he died.

“It’s very hard to understand right now because usually every night if Cory wasn’t home he would call mom and dad just to say, you know, ‘everything is good.’”

Cory was very close to his parents, Curtis said. Cory had just moved to Saskatoon to be with his girlfriend and was back for the weekend visiting on Sept. 6.

“He chose to live with his parents up until the time he moved to help them and support them and that just shows the type of person he was. It was almost like they were roommates. Mom and dad didn’t only lose a son, they almost lost a best friend,” Curtis said.

More than 20 members of the family and friends attended Cook’s first court appearance, with his mother holding a photo of Cory and both parents were “a little bit emotional” according to Curtis. Curtis rubbed his mother’s back to console her.

“We weren’t going to him [Cook] the satisfaction of any tears or anything like that with him there because we have no sympathy for him whatsoever,” he said.

“I kept my eyes locked on him and my eyes will be locked on him every single court appearance. I will not stop staring that man in the eyes until I get a guilty verdict and see him go to jail for life.”

Prince Albert Police have been keeping the family in the loop and affirming their efforts investigating the homicide. Curtis said they knew a suspect had been arrested within 20 minutes, and they are very appreciative of all their efforts.

Cory’s parents were too upset to speak with the media. Curtis’ dress on Tuesday was a very symbolic reminder of his brother. He wore a Dallas Stars jersey and hat, which was his brother’s favourite team. Curtis also had a cross around his neck and handed out medallions with guardian angels on them in his brother’s memory.

His message about the man facing charges for his brother’s murder is a simple one.

“He shouldn’t be sitting there [in the prisoner’s box] and my brother shouldn’t be laying in the ground.”

Cook’s case was adjourned until Oct. 23, and he will stay in custody during that time.

claskowski@panow.com

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk