Man accused of killing two children in 1970's makes court appearance

The man accused of murdering two children in the 1970’s made a brief court appearance by video in Abbotsford on Monday to set his next court date.

Garry Handlen was charged with first degree murder in November in connection to the deaths of 12 year old Monica Jack near Merritt in 1978 and 11 year old Kathryn Mary Herbert in Matsqui in 1975.

Herbert disappeared in September of 1975 and was later found dead in November near Harris Road in what was then Matsqui.

Jack went missing near Merritt in 1978, her remains were found in 1995.

As they did in Handlen’s first court appearance in December, members of the Women’s Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women formed a drum circle in support of the families of the two girls.

Handlen’s next court appearance will be April 1st.