VANCOUVER — A Langley woman accused of the shocking murder of her seven-year-old daughter Aaliyah Rosa last month, made a brief appearance in provincial court on Monday.
Kerryann Lewis, dressed in a grey sweatshirt with a camouflage print on the body and solid grey sleeves, calmly surveyed the Surrey courtroom from the prisoner’s dock during her four minutes before the judge.
The 36-year-old wore rectangular, dark-rimmed glasses and a neutral expression on her face as she leaned against the wall of the dock and listened to the proceedings.
A lone female supporter, who declined to speak with media, was seated near the back of the courtroom.
Lewis was remanded in custody and her case was adjourned until the morning of Aug. 28, when she will appear by video. Before she was led out of the room, the Crown reiterated that a number of no-contact orders remain in effect for Lewis.
Homicide police announced Monday morning that Lewis had been arrested and charged on Friday with the second-degree murder of Aaliyah.
The girl was found dead on July 22 inside an apartment building near 200th Street and 68th Avenue in Langley. Lewis was present and also suffering from injuries.
Police deemed the death a homicide and that it was an isolated incident. Police would not provide details of Lewis’s injuries.
Integrated Homicide Investigation Team spokesman Cpl. Frank Jang said since the day of the incident, investigators have “worked tirelessly to collect and compile all the evidence for charge approval consideration to Crown counsel.”
He said officers canvassed the neighbourhood and conducted numerous interviews.
No other charges are expected, and Jang said there are no other suspects.
Jang called the case emotional and unsettling for all involved.
“This was a deeply tragic case that affected the entire community,” said Jang. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Aaliyah Rosa and we hope that we were able to provide some answers to her family.”
Despite the fact that a charge has been laid, Jang said there are no winners in this case.
“Aaliyah is still no longer with us. Her family has to pick up the pieces and carry on life without her, and now her mother has been charged for her murder,” he said.
Aaliyah was an only child who lived in Walnut Grove with her father Steve. A GoFundMe page was also created by “caregivers” from Aaliyah’s former preschool; the campaign has since raised $30,637 of a $50,000 goal to cover funeral costs and care needs for her father.
Jang expressed gratitude to the public for the information and good wishes that were forwarded to investigators.
Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 1-877-551-4448 or by email at [email protected].
— With files from Stephanie Ip
