Over and over again, family and friends of Sarnia kindergarten teacher Noelle Paquette made it clear - her killers stole a remarkable life from this world.
Paquette's mother, Lynn Paquette, was the first to deliver a victim impact statement at the Elgin County Courthouse on Wednesday. It was the first day of sentencing proceedings for 34-year-old Tanya Bogdanovich and 22-year-old Michael MacGregor.
The pair pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in December in the abduction, rape, and murder of Noelle.
"You did not take away her soul, so you did not win," Lynn said directly to Bogdanovich and MacGregor during her statement.
She spoke of a young woman who loved to laugh and dance, a teacher surprised by the number of students who came to school without basic necessities, a caring heart who ultimately brought in lunches and shoes for those same students.
"You have taken away our beautiful daughter, our joy, and a piece of my heart," Lynn said.
A total of 21 victim impact statements were delivered by family and friends.
Noelle's father, Roger Paquette, said the accused deprived him of walking his daughter down the aisle, deprived him of future grandchildren, and deprived hundreds of kids of a wonderful teacher.
Her sister Jocelyn said, "I feel cheated that I can't make new memories with her."
She spoke of Noelle's "contagious laugh," a laugh Noelle's friend Cara is sad she might forget.
"Life will never be the same," Cara told the court.
Other friends spoke of wine nights, dance parties, and girl chats that are now replaced by nightmares, fears, and anxiety.
Paquette's sister, Nicole, said she can no longer run outside for fear someone is going to abduct her.
Victim impact statements were filed but not read from Nelle's younger brother, aunt, and boyfriend.
The gruelling day in court began with the reading of the 40-page agreed statement of facts, a process that took several hours.
Assistant Crown Attorney Michael Carnegie was tasked with reading the document, which outlined Bogdanovich and MacGregor's seven-month relationship, their plan to rape and murder, the attack on Noelle, and their arrest.
Noelle was abducted from a Sarnia street January 1, 2013 after leaving a New Year's Eve party. She was driven 18 km south to a woodlot on the outskirts of Sarnia where she was raped and murdered.
Bogdanovich and MacGregor, who had both injured themselves in the brutal attack, were arrested January 3, 2013.
Sentencing in the case will take place Thursday.
A sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years is automatically given when convicted for first-degree murder.
