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Teen accused in Virk's murder asserts she tried to save the doomed girl

A P Kamath

Kelly Ellard, the teen accused of beating and drowning 14-year-old Reena Virk, admitted in a Vancouver court that she punched Reena but later tried to stop other girls from continuing the beating.

Seven girls and a boy were charged in the beating of Reena that led to her death over two years ago. But while the six girls were charged with minor offenses, Ellard is accused of giving Reena a second round of beating with the help of the boy, and holding her head under the water. The beating took place near a bridge not far away from their school in Victoria.

The trial is taking place in another city because of the publicity it has drawn in Victoria.

Ellard, 17, charged with second-degree murder in Reena's death, testified that when one of the girls called for the attack to stop, she (Ellard) grabbed one girl who continued to beat Reena.

Ellard's lawyer had suggested earlier that his client has been made the scapegoat by others.

When Reena tried to stagger towards a bus stop, Ellard said she called out to Reena to ask: ''Are you going to be all right?''

Reena had been staying out of her family house following disputes with her parents but the day she was beaten up, she made a phone call home, saying that she wanted to come back. But soon thereafter the second attack started -- and her body was found eight days later down the river.

Ellard said Reena swore at her and said ''everyone leave me alone.''

The court has heard a number of Ellard's friends and classmates say Ellard and Warren Glowatski, the only boy among the attackers, followed Reena after the others involved in the beating had left.

The witnesses told the court last week that Ellard later confessed to continuing to beat Virk, dragging her body into the waterway and forcing her head underwater by standing on it.

Glowatski was found guilty of second-degree murder and has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for seven years. Ellard's lawyer has said that Glowatski has spread lies about his client.

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