A group of friends and supporters of Naomi Onotera鈥檚 family protested against her accused killer getting bail on Tuesday morning at the Surrey Provincial Courthouse.

Onotera, a 91原创 City resident and schoolteacher in Surrey, disappeared at the end of August last year.

Her husband, Obnes Regis, was arrested on Dec. 17 and has been in custody since then, facing charges of manslaughter and indignity to human remains.

After the hearing, the Surrey court registry advised that Regis was still in custody and had not been released, and he would next appear in court on Feb. 18 to set a trial date.

Some of those who gathered outside the courthouse did not know Onotera in life but were there to offer support, while others had known her for years.

鈥淣aomi was one of my friends since high school,鈥� said Lisa Drozda.

She first met Onotera when she transferred to Surrey鈥檚 Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary in Grade 9. Onotera welcomed her into her group of friends, and they stayed friends into adulthood, Drozda said.

鈥淪he was an important part of growing up for me,鈥� said Drozda.

READ MORE: Shock and grief after husband is charged with death of missing 91原创 City woman

Onotera even reached out when she heard Drozda鈥檚 child was having some trouble in school and helped with tutoring. Drozda described her friend as selfless, someone who gave up her own time to make the lives of others easier.

She hoped the protest would have some impact on the court鈥檚 decision on whether or not to grant bail.

鈥淚 hope that it shows that there are a lot of people that are supporting Naomi and her family,鈥� she said.

About half a dozen people arrived for the protest outside, and more hoped to enter the court and see the proceedings.

Onotera鈥檚 disappearance drew a great deal of interest from friends and her school community after she was last seen around Aug. 28.

Over the following months, her friends and family launched a campaign to find her, papering 91原创 and surrounding areas with missing person posters, and searching the woods and fields in and around 91原创 City.

In September, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was called in to assist the 91原创 RCMP with the investigation, and by late in the month an extensive, days-long search was made of Onotera鈥檚 91原创 City home.

There were further searches in December, including a vehicle being towed from the home under police supervision.

Shortly after that, police announced the arrest of Regis.