Father of Miles Monias forgives alleged serial killer John Paul Ostamas
The family of Miles Monias said they will forgive John Ostamas, who is charged with their son's death
The family of Miles Monias says they will forgive the man accused of killing their son and two other men.
Police have charged John Paul Ostamas with second-degree murder in connection with the 37-year-old's death.
"It's a start for our healing process," said the victim's father, Ron Monias, from Garden Hill First Nation.
His son was found beaten in a bus shelter at Main Street and Pioneer Avenue on April 10. He later died in hospital from his injuries.
Ostamas is also charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Stony Stanley Beardy, 48, and Donald Collins, 65. The men were killed within hours of each other in downtown Winnipeg on April 24.
Monias said the family is taking the news of an arrest hard.
"We had to let it soak in. We did do some crying ourselves, because of the news, the way it happened," said Monias.
The family said it was hard to learn that the man arrested for their son's death is charged in the deaths of two others.
"It made me really sad for that person [Ostamas]," said Monias. "The first initial thoughts we had were to forgive this man."
Monias said his son had recently fallen on hard times. He had split with his girlfriend and had been between homes for about three weeks. Monias says his son was hanging around with street people from his home community of Garden Hill.
Miles Monias leaves behind four daughters.
His family plans to travel to Winnipeg from Garden hill to visit the bus shelter to say goodbye.