KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The mother of three children found slain in their B.C. home told police their loving father seemed incapable of harming the children.
And Darcie Clarke testified that even if he had shown signs of mental illness in the days leading up to the children’s deaths she may still have left her sons and daughter with their father.
In her final day of testimony at Allan Schoenborn’s first-degree murder trial, Clarke reviewed statements she made to police just days after she found Kaitlynne, 10, Max, 8 and five-year-old Cordon dead in their Merritt, B.C., home.
Clarke described Schoenborn as an active father who played often with the children.
She told police Schoenborn built a bed and attached desk for his daughter and a fireman-type pole for his sons’ bunkbeds so they could slide down.
“You didn’t think he was capable of violence towards the kids,” defence lawyer Peter Wilson asked Clarke.
“Right,” she replied.
“Allan never spanked the kids,” said Wilson.
“True,” she said.
“You didn’t understand how he could have done it. It never entered your head that he could have hurt them,” said Wilson, reviewing her police statement.
“Yes,” she agreed.