Musgrave trial begins

The first testimony has been heard at the Brandon Musgrave murder trial in Hamilton.

Lisa Hepfner has the story.

Thursday morning, we heard the crux of the crown’s case, and we heard from the first witness in the trial, 23-year-old Ted Tsibu-Darkoh.

He was one of three people who were shot at a party on Dundurn Street in March of 2010, one of two people who recovered. Tsibu-Darkoh told the court he was a graduate of Columbia College and the residents of the student house who advertised their party on Facebook were friends of his from the college. He told jurors that he had had a conversation with one of the suspects earlier in the night, because Tyrone Chambers was wearing a hoodie that matched his red and blue shoes. And then he says he got involved when Tyrone Chambers started arguing with one of the party hosts about the music being played. He testified that Chambers pulled a sock-covered gun out of his pants and said, I could end this party right now. Shortly after, he says, Joshua Warner pulled out a gun too, and shots rang out. He says he watch Warner bring up his gun when he was only a metre away, and shoot him in the shoulder. 18-year old Brandon Musgrave was shot fatally that night. His large, close knit family sat together in court and tried to keep their emotions in check.

Cora Musgrave: “We’re here to support Brandon. We’re just praying for justice and we appreciate everyone’s support.”

Janet Musgrave: “It has brought our family closer together. We turned something negative into a positive. Brandon will always be in our hearts. I’m carrying him with me every day. If we went through the funeral and the burial we’ll make it through. It’s not about what those boys did. It’s about Brandon. His organs saved, seven people are living today because of his organs. So basically, he’s still living with us.”

For the past three years the family has organized a walk to raise money for a scholarship in Brandon’s name. Brandon wanted to be a pilot, he was finishing his education when he was killed. Tsibu-darkoh will be back on the stand again Friday for more cross examination. The crown says the evidence in this case will include the black socks used to cover Chambers’ gun, with holes and gunpowder residue, a vodka bottle with Chambers’ DNA from the crime scene, a gun that was found, and matching bullets pulled from people’s bodies.