‘He was my baby’: Emotional victim impact statements in bush party murder sentencing

An emotional sentencing hearing at the London courthouse on Friday for Carlos Guerra Guerra in the Josue Silva murder case, CTV’s Nick Paparella reports.

The courtroom was packed for the sentencing hearing of the convicted killer who shot 18-year-old Josue Silva in July, 2021.

Most in attendance were family, friends, and loved ones of the shooting victim - who came out to show their support.

Family friend Michelle Marshall said, “As parents were are sickened and heartbroken.”

Silva was at the bush party off of Pack Road in south London on July 31, 2021 with about 150 other teenagers when an argument broke out between partygoers, which lead to the shooting.

Following a trial in the fall, Carlos Guerra Guerra, 23, was found guilty by a jury of second degree murder.

The court heard that he was called out to the party by his friend, Emily Altmann to help out with the dispute. Guerra Guerra showed up with a loaded handgun.

Altmann would eventually be arrested in connection with the shooting, but charges against her would later be dropped by the Crown.

Guerra Guerra’s friend Dylan Schaap would be sentenced in this case after pleading guilty to manslaughter. He ended up showing up to the bush party with a machete.

In total, ten victim impacts were presented at the sentencing hearing.

Silva’s older brother Eliel said, “I wake up before my wife just to sit there and think of him [Josue], so I don’t forget.”

A group of the victim’s friends calling themselves “The Lambeth Boys” told the court, “The pain of losing Josue is a pain we carry every single day.”

Josue’s father Ricardo said the pain of losing his son is to hard to bear at times, telling the court, “I will spend the rest of my life mourning the future that should have been his.”

When Silva’s mother Claudia Perez addressed the court she referred to Guerra Guerra as a ‘wannabe gangster’ but refused to say his name.

Outside the courthouse she told CTV News, “He [Guerra Guerra] doesn’t deserve my voice, he killed my son.”

Josue Silva was described as an outstanding, student, athlete, friend and son with his mother saying, “He was just a happy boy, he was my baby.”

Ricardo Silva added, “This is a nightmare, it’s destroyed our dreams, our family, our purpose in life.”

While the victim impact statements were being read into court, Guerra Guerra sat in the prisoners box staring straight ahead and showing little or no emotion.

Guerra Guerra faces a sentence of life in prison for a second degree murder conviction.

Justice Patricia Moore will decide how long he will serve before being eligible for parole.

The Crown argued that he should serve 20 years, with the defence asking for twelve.

Guerra Guerra has also pled guilty to three other charges connected to this incident, including a weapons offence, obstructing justice charge and one of intimidating a witness.

The hearing has been put over until next week with Justice Moore expected to hand down her decision on April 28.