New miniseries delves into the murder of Victoria's Reena Virk
CBC
A new true crime drama delves into the murder of a B.C. teenager more than 25 years ago
Under The Bridge explores the real-life events surrounding the disappearance and death of 14-year-old Reena Virk.
Virk was swarmed and beaten under a bridge in Saanich, B.C., by a group of teenagers on Nov. 14, 1997.
Two of the attackers, Kelly Ellard, who was 15 at the time, and Warren Glowatski, 17, were convicted of beating and drowning her in Gorge waterway. Six other girls were convicted of assault.
Based on the 2005 book of the same name by late author Rebecca Godfrey, Under The Bridge will premiere on April 17 on Hulu and stream on Disney+ Canada starting May 8.
Former Vancouver Sun reporter Neal Hall, who covered the case as it was unfolding, says Virk's death was a "cruel and senseless crime."
"[This] poor girl [was] seeking acceptance by this group of girls...and she didn't fit in, she was an outsider and they just beat her and ended up killing her," he said in an interview with CBC's Early Edition last month.
Hall says he looks forward to seeing how the story is adapted for the screen.
"I saw a little preview of it and I think they will stay true to the story," Hall said.
However, the Vancouver-based author and journalist says it's important to consider the implications of dramatizing a real-life tragedy.
"[Virk's family] they will have all the bad memories brought back," he said, adding the miniseries will also impact the perpetrators.
Convicted of second-degree murder, Glowatski was granted full parole in 2010.
Ellard was also convicted of second-degree murder. She was first granted day parole in November 2017, which the parole board has been extending in six-month increments. Ellard, who now goes by a different name, had two children while incarcerated.
"[Ellard] herself now has kids to bring up and I guess she might be worried about her children getting affected by it," Hall said.
