The youngest and only surviving member of the Afzaal family got the final word in court on Friday.
His victim impact statement was read by his cousin surrounded by other family members during day two of Nathaniel Veltman's sentencing hearing.
Some of the most powerful statements came from friends of Yumnah Afzaal, who was 15 years old at the time of her death.
"I miss Yumnah. Not a day passes that I do not think of her," said Maryam Al Sabawi. She added that the grief she feels from losing her friend is overwhelming and makes her feel like she's trapped in a nightmare that she can't wake up from.
"We didn’t just lose Yumnah and her beautiful family," she said. "We lost our sense of belonging, our sense of community, our sense of safety, our sense of self. We even lost our innocence. The world isn't as kind as we believed it to be."
Eeshal Salman described her life as tainted from June 6, 2021 onward. "Losing her felt like losing a limb," she said of Yumnah. "Every single day there is a moment where I miss them so terribly that I don't know what to do with myself," she added.
Huda Sallam said she has suffered from panic attacks and bouts of PTSD since losing her friend. "I can't go anywhere in the city without seeing her and feeling her," Sallam said, adding that wherever she goes she walks closest to the road, to ensure that if someone were to be hit and killed by a vehicle she would die first.
All three girls managed to do something that many of the adults who spoke couldn't. They stared right into Veltman's eyes as they shared their statements.
"The pain I felt is something I never want to feel again, but that's not a guarantee is it?" Sallam asked him directly.
Al Sabawi glared at Veltman saying, "He took from us what did not belong to him. And there is no way to get it back."
All Veltman could do was stare back, in shock. The 23-year-old was convicted in November of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder after intentionally driving his truck into five members of the Afzaal family on June 6, 2021.
Jenna Khorshed another young girl, spoke on behalf of the Youth Coalition Combatting Islamophobia. The group was created by Yumnah's friends and consists of young high school and university students.
They've planned events, spoken out, made videos, and even created education packages for schools to use for grades one through twelve.
Before one of those videos played for the courtroom Khorshed reminded everyone how deeply affected Muslim youth have been. "London, Ontario will always be the place where Muslims were killed just for being Muslim, and we will always be the kids whose youth was ended because of it."
Former Mayor Ed Holder also wrote a statement about how the City of London was changed on June 6. "We hurt and we cry for this family and we strive to be and to do better," he said.
Multiple faith leaders, from London Imam Abd Al Fattah Twakkal, to Sikh leader Prabh Singh Gill, to Rabbi Debra Dressler spoke about how the trauma has affected many different communities.
Rabbi Dressler said that much like the fear of Muslim women becoming targets because of their Hijabs, Jewish youth are afraid to wear jewelry or clothing that will identify their faith.
"An indiscriminate act like this is a reminder that violence can find us anywhere at any time," she said.
The two days' worth of statements wrapped up with the one from the youngest Afzaal.
His statement began by talking about his sadness and what he'll miss about his family members.
"Me and Yumnah had plans that when she finally got her driver's license she'd drive me around - she said it would cost 25 cents per drive. Now I'll never be able to see that," the statement read.
He spoke about his broken leg and fractured collarbone, and how the attack caused the necessity for physio and therapy.
He finished his message with some advice to other kids who might find their parents or siblings annoying, "once they leave you, you start to really notice how much they cared about you."
The young boy's statement evoked more reaction from Veltman than any other, as he appeared physically uncomfortable and seemed to be hyperventilating.
After the statement had been read, Justice Renee Pomerance thanked everyone who wrote or read a statement. "I am deeply moved by the eloquent, poignant, powerful words that have filled this room in the last two days," she said.
Court will resume in London at 10 a.m. on January 23, 2024.
