Julie Tran's brother speaks after death of sister and Selma Alem - Action News
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Julie Tran's brother speaks after death of sister and Selma Alem

For the first time since her brutal death, Julie Tran's family is speaking about their loss. The developmentally disabled woman was killed alongside her caretaker, Selma Alem.

'Growing up in foster care ... she took care of me and I took care of her,' said Billy Tran

Julie Tran loved flowers and had recently completed a course in floral design. (Family photo)

Untiltoday, Julie Tranwas known as the developmentally disabled victim of a brutal stabbing that left herand her caretakerdead last month but now her brotherspeaking out for the first time, tells CBC News he wants Calgarians to knowshe was quirky,full of life and loved flowers.

"I just want people to know that she was so full of colour, she just had so much lifeto her and so much vigour to her despite her disability," said Billy Tran.

Julie, 25, and SelmaAlem were killed at Alem's Coventry Hills home on Oct. 19.

Alem's son, EmanuelKahsai, 30, wasarrested last week and charged with first-degree murderin the death ofAlem and second-degree murder in the death of Julie Tran.

Alem had successfullysought a restraining order against her son who had threatened herin the past and been violent towards her.

That was something the Billy Tran was never told. Something he says makes him angry.

Billy and Julie grew up in foster care in Calgarytogether. For most of their lives, they were each other'sonly family. Billy fights through tears when he speaks of his sister.

"I was super close to my sister, growing up in foster care, we were there for each other. She took care of me and I took care of her," said Billy.

Julie Tran suffered a brain injury when she was twoyearsold that left her developmentally disabled. Though she was 25, her brother says she functioned at the level of a 13-year-old.

"She was so happy and so willing to accept the world even though the world didn't want to accept her," he said.

She'd recently completed a floral design course at Mount Royal University. Flowers were her passion.

Alem had another son, Michael, who was killed a decade ago. The pain of thatloss left his brother, Emanuel, with drug, alcohol and anger problems, according tocourt documents.

Tran and Alem were more like mother-daughter than caretaker-client. They would bicker about things like screen time butBilly says his sister loved Alem and wanted to live with her forever.

On Oct. 22, three days after she was killed, Tran was buried in Queensland cemetery. Billy says unknowingly, his sister ended up in the same cemetery Alem, just across from each other.