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Daryl Slade, Calgary Herald

Published: Wednesday, October 08, 2008

A 22-year-old accused of killing a woman near the Franklin LRT station in January will face a jury trial on first-degree murder.

Christopher James Watcheston was committed to stand trial following a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Watcheston is accused of killing Arcelie Laoagan, 41, a married mother of five who had come to Calgary from the Philippines.

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Oswald Sambrito says he was enraged watching the man accused of killing his sister at a court hearing Tuesday.

Oswald Sambrito, 32, the victim’s younger brother, flew in from Toronto for the hearing. He said it was upsetting to sit across the courtroom from the man accused of the vicious slaying.

“Looking at the guy face to face . . . it’s rage. I don’t know how to describe that,” Sambrito said outside court during a break.

“It was my sister and I have to support her,” said Sambrito, who moved to Canada from the Philippines six years ago.

“I want to know the result. Hearing and seeing every detail makes it fresh again. It’s totally difficult when people describe things . . . I can picture how my sister suffered, based on the pictures.”

Sambrito noted, however, that Watcheston has yet to be convicted of the crime.

Laoagan’s body was discovered on a path across from the northeast C-Train station at 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 18.

Provincial court Judge Bruce Fraser heard from the young woman who found the victim’s body, from one of Laoagan’s friends, and from two acquaintances of the accused.

None of the evidence heard during the hearing can be reported because of a publication ban.

Watcheston sat in the prisoner’s box staring at the floor while the first two witnesses testified; however, he faced both acquaintances during their testimony.

He will be back in Court of Queen’s Bench on Dec. 5 to set a date for trial.

dslade@theherald.canwest.com

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