Reena Virk's name meant "queen," and her savage death has left the father who cherished her still seeking justice 11 years later.

Manjit Virk hopes Canada's top court will at last put the agonizing case to rest Friday.

The Supreme Court of Canada will rule on whether to restore a second-degree murder conviction against Kelly Ellard, order a fourth trial, or stay the epic proceedings.

"Until justice is done, people are not at ease," Virk said Thursday from Victoria.

He wants to see the high court find Ellard guilty of killing his first-born child.

Ellard was convicted of second-degree murder in 2000, but the decision was set a side on appeal and a new trial ordered. A second trial in 2004 ended in a hung jury.

Ellard was again found guilty of second-degree murder in 2005. But the result was thrown out in a split decision when two of the three B.C. appeal court judges said the trial judge did not properly instruct the jury.

"It makes you wonder what kind of system we have and what kind of money we have to squander like that," Virk said.

"It's such a costly process. And I believe ... even if she goes through another trial, she will be found guilty. Basically the system is just going 'round and 'round, and frustrating everybody."

Ellard was 15 when Reena, then 14, was swarmed by eight teens, beaten and later drowned in a Victoria park on Nov. 14, 1997. She died not far from where her father once brought her to picnic and play.

Reena had been invited to "party" under the Craigflower Bridge that night when a dispute over another girl's boyfriend landed her in the middle of a kicking, punching attack.

After initially escaping the frenzy, court heard that the she was again beaten so badly that her internal injuries were compared to being run over by a car. She likely would have died from head trauma.

But she was then dragged into the Gorge -- a tidal waterway running through Victoria -- and held under until she stopped breathing. Police divers found her body eight days later.

The brutality of her death made shocking headlines around the world.

Ellard has repeatedly denied the murder. Now 26, she has already served about seven years behind bars awaiting a final legal outcome. She was denied bail pending a Supreme Court hearing in April.

At issue was testimony from Marissa Bowles, a teen who witnessed the attack on Reena by seven young women and a 16-year-old male. She was not accused of taking part.

Bowles told Ellard's third trial that she saw the victim walk across the bridge after the initial swarming, followed soon after by Ellard and Warren Glowatski who was convicted in 1999 of second-degree murder in the death.

Glowatski was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for seven years and has since been released.

A majority of the B.C. Court of Appeal pointed out that Bowles' testimony was significantly different from the sworn statement she gave police 10 days after the incident.

She did not mention seeing Reena cross the bridge nor did she refer to Ellard or Glowatski trailing her at the time.

Ellard's defence team argued the jury should have been specifically instructed that any reference to Bowles by the prosecution as a consistent witness on that key detail must be offset by her initial failure to mention it to police.

Ellard's lawyer, Peter Wilson, said the testimony was pivotal because it could be seen to back Glowatski's version of events -- that Ellard crossed the bridge with him in pursuit of Reena.

Prosecuting lawyer John Gordon confirmed Bowles "gave the only direct evidence" backing Glowatski on that point, but said circumstantial evidence also linked Ellard to the murder.

Manjit Virk, now 52, said the trauma of the case has left him grappling with a stress disorder that makes it impossible to work full-time. But he visits schools to share his story and warn of what bullying can turn into.

"It's very powerful when we see the kids," he said. "They shed tears and they come give us a hug. Some of them say they have been bullied and some say they are bullies but they will change right away now.

"And I think it's affecting some lives."