Musgrave’s killers sentenced

(Update)

It was emotional day inside a Hamilton courtroom. Family members of Brandon Musgrave read victim impact statements at the sentencing of two men convicted in his murder. Then Justice James Ramsay sentenced his killers, Tyrone Chambers and Josh Warner, to life with no chance of parole for 17 and 15 years respectively. More than a dozen family members listened with tears falling down their faces as Brandon Musgraves parents, and three of his sisters talked about their loss. Afterwards CHCH spoke to them outside and they told us how this process has helped them through their loss.

Rogers Musgrave: “I feel relieved today, but it’s not the end of it.”

Rogers Musgrave speaks for a family that has been through a long three and a half years since the loss of Brandon: “His life is gone at 18-years old and we have to live with it.”

It was March of 2010. Brandon was at a student a house party on Dundurn Avenue when an argument broke out. Tyrone Chambers said he didn’t like the music playing and pulled out a gun. So did his friend, Josh Warner. They began shooting inside the living room. Three people were hit including Brandon, who was shot in the head. The police investigation lasted more than a year. Chambers was arrested in Halifax and Warner had to be extradited from Guyana. Their second-degree murder conviction comes with a mandatory life sentence. The question was how long before they could apply for parole. And Friday, the Musgrave family was able to speak before that decision was made.

Janet Musgrave: “It felt good actually to let it out. I had to do it for my son.”

Through tears, each spoke candidly about the empty spot in their family that this crime has left. After remembering happy moments with her brother, Kessia Musgrave looked sternly at her brothers killers: “I wanted then to know that I will never have those moments with Brandon again and that’s something that I struggle with and that’s hard”

The family says they are happy with the decision, though no amount of jail time is really enough to bring back Brandon. And they know it’s not the end.

Janet said: “As long as I have life in me, I’ll be there. If they apply for early parole, I’ll be there. We’ll be there.”

The two convicted killers also received six-year sentences for aggravated assault. That’s because of the two other people who were shot at that party and survived.

It’s unknown whether either of them will appeal.