Friends, family pay tribute to Aylmer homicide victims

Dozens of people inside a Gatineau funeral home paid tribute to a young woman and her parents, the victims of last month's triple homicide in Aylmer.

Anne-Katherine Powers, 21, her mother Louise LeBoeuf, 63, and LeBoeuf's partner Claude Lévesque, 58, were all found dead in their Aylmer home May 24.

Shakti Ramsurrun, Powers' former partner, is facing three charges of first-degree murder.

On Saturday, friends and family gathered to remember the victims.

Johanne Desormeaux, Powers' cousin, told CBC News she's still coming to grips with the deaths.

"It's tough," she said. "When I was told the news I was like, 'Oh my god, how does this happen?'"

Parents well respected in Gatineau community

Ramila Padiachy and her partner remembered Anne-Katherine's parents as jovial, fun-loving, and well respected in the community.

"They were such an inspiration," Padiachy said. "What an amazing couple, what a giving couple, and so connected. It's sad that all three had to go at the same time. The three of them were excellently connected.

"It's sombre, of course," she continued. "Losing three people. I think everybody is feeling exactly the same. It's just so sad, so senseless. Three people, a senseless murder."

Powers and Ramsurrun met on a Caribbean cruise in 2009.

Friends of Powers said the couple had a baby together in Mauritius, a small island off the east coast of Africa, where Ramsurrun is from. She later moved back to Aylmer and he followed about six months ago.

The relationship had turned sour and Powers wanted to separate, but the couple still lived together in the Aylmer home.

Police spokesman Const. Pierre Lanthier said Ramsurrun became a permanent resident of Canada in 2011.

He was arrested while holding his 15-month-old child at the nearby Rivermead Golf Club where he worked. The boy is now in the care of child services.

Ramsurrun's next court appearance is scheduled for July 13.