CRIME
Pair face automatic life sentences in death of John Herrera Garcia
A jury took less than 10 hours on Friday to convict Chantelle Campbell and Jarod Henry of second-degree murder in the vicious beating death of Calgary engineer John Fernando Herrera Garcia as he walked home with his groceries on an inner-city Calgary street on May 23, 2012.
The eight-man, three-woman jury also acquitted Garrett Smith, 29, who had denied during trial that he touched the 49-year-old victim, of the same charge. Herrera Garcia sustained several blows to the head that left him in a vegetative state for four months before he died on Sept. 12, 2012.
Campbell, 30, and Henry, 25, face automatic life sentences with no chance of parole for between 10 and 25 years. The case was adjourned to Monday to set a sentencing date.
“It’s quite obvious . . .the jury thought very carefully about the verdict and they delivered,” said Crown prosecutor Ken McCaffrey. “We asked for guilty verdicts on all three, but I can certainly understand why Mr. Smith was acquitted. At this point, we are gratified with the jury’s decision.”
Smith hugged lawyer Willie deWit and family outside court.
“Obviously, were very happy with the verdict,” said deWit. "Mr. Smith wants to tell the Herrera Garcia family he is very sorry for what happened to the man those years ago.
“Obviously, he’s relieved. He’s been under these charges for over three years. It’s been a long battle
I can certainly understand why Mr. Smith was acquitted. At this point, we are gratified with the jury’s decision.
for him, very tough. It’s a relief for him that he was found not guilty. Obviously, he made some mistakes that evening. He shouldn’t have chased after the person. He shouldn’t have left the scene afterwards. But he told police and everybody he wasn’t involved.”
The victim’s widow said her loss has been an “unimaginable tragedy” for both her family and the accused’s families.
But Gloria Herrera said she also believes her husband’s killers deserve a second chance and will make the best of it.
“It is a horrific experience that I sincerely hope will be a lesson to us all,” Gloria Herrera said outside court Friday morning after jury began deliberating.
“To that end, I have no words to fully articulate what I have endured the last three years. My reality has been severely altered due to the loss of my husband. I must now confront what will be a difficult road, especially as a widow with very young children to raise.”
Campbell and Henry both admitted to assaulting the victim after chasing him down the street after parking at 14th Ave. and 6th St. S.W. about 10:30 that night.
Herrera now lives in Boston, Mass., and travelled here for the trial.
She said after hearing all the evidence and observing the accused in court, she hopes they will become better citizens.
“May these young people find peace and have genuine remorse when they are able to face their truth and take responsibility for their actions,” Herrera read in a prepared statement.
“When they do ultimately find that peace, may they do their utmost to make amends by doing good for and giving love to others they may encounter in their life journeys, no matter how different from them these others may be.”