Thane Murray's mother delivers wrenching statement as his killers face sentencing

CBC

4 days ago

Thane Murray's mother told an Ontario court Tuesday she still can't look at his picture four years after he was shot and killed.
Dawn Murray was one of 17 people to deliver a victim impact statement as sentencing began for the two men convicted of murdering Murray, a 27-year-old youth worker in Regent Park, and attempting to kill two of his friends on Sept. 18, 2021.
Dawn Murray told the court she struggles every day with the pain of his loss, and despite the love and support of her family still struggles to celebrate holidays because her son's not there.
"Even though I look fine on the outside, I am dying on the inside," she said.
Murray was a good kid who loved his friends, the outdoors, and was always respectful toward her and others, his mother said. She said she still doesn't know what her family did to deserve this.
"I think about him being so scared that night and was there was nobody to protect him," she said.
Noah Anderson, 23, and Junior Jahmal Harvey, 23, have been convicted of one count each of first-degree murder and two counts each of attempted murder in connection with the case. They will both receive automatic life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years, but victim impact statements are still being read into court so those affected by the shooting can share how it has changed their lives.
Allen Uthayakumaran, who was also shot 11 times in the hail of bullets, also delivered a powerful statement.
"After I was shot, I tried to get back up, and I fell multiple times," he said.
"I called out for help, and my eyesight went white. I felt someone holding my hand, and I felt their pulse. That's what kept me alive."
Uthayakumaran said he was in a coma for three weeks after the shooting. The year that followed was marked by learning to walk again, then going home to continue recovering from multiple serious injuries. In total, Uthayakumaran said he underwent seven surgeries.
Physical injuries aside, Uthayakumaran also described how his life is different now following the senseless shooting.
"I don't stay in one place anymore, I go to work and come home. I can't play basketball anymore, I don't chill outside with friends," he said.
And there's no Murray.
"We can never see our friend again," Uthayakumaran said.
"I just want my son back," said Dawn Murray.