Mother of Cote des Neiges murder victim speaks in court

The mother of a young man who was stabbed to death five years ago told the court Wednesday morning how she still mourns her son.

Joshua Williams was killed when he tried to stop a fight between two of his friends.

Abiram Subramaniam stabbed him, and was convicted earlier this year of second-degree murder.

Jeannine James, the victim's mother, said she has been unable to work since her son was killed, and as a result has lost everything.

She has tried to come to grips with her son's death, and said she is now, finally, at peace.

"I have no investment really, and I say this honestly, in the amount of time the convicted man gets, because it's not so much the time it's what he does with it, or what happens in that space of time," said James.

She said nothing the courts can do will bring back her son.

"My time is life, regardless."

Because he has been convicted of second-degree murder Subramaniam will automatically receive a life sentence, but the amount of time he must serve before he is eligible to apply for parole varies.

According to police, Subramaniam and another person were drinking beer and smoking marijuana in the parking lot at Cote des Neiges plaza when Subramaniam asked to see his friend's ring. After looking at the piece of jewelry, he pocketed it.

The pair started to brawl. Williams stepped in to stop the fight and Subramaniam stabbed him six times.

Police managed to get a confession out of Subramaniam by using the 'Mister Big' tactic, where people are lured into confessing to a crime in order to convince an apparent criminal mastermind that they are worthy of joining their gang.

The Crown is asking for 13 years behind bars, while defence lawyers are arguing for 10 years. A decision expected to come down April 11, but Subramaniam's lawyer is planning to appeal the case.