The Buckingham

Photo Credit: echonn.com

The three Afghan-Canadians charged in the murder trail of four relatives came to a close Sunday afternoon, being convicted on all charges.

After the family trio ‘proclaimed innocence,’ Mohammad Shafia, 59, his 2nd wife Tooba Mohammad Yaha, 42 and their eldest son Hamed, 21, were given the automatic life imprisonment sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.

The verdict was reached at 1pm Sunday after the jury deliberated 15 hours over two days at the Frontenac County Court House in downtown Kingston.

“It is difficult to conceive of a more despicable, more heinous crime. The apparent reason behind these cold-blooded, shameful murders was that the four completely innocent victims offended your completely twisted concept of honour, a notion of honour that is founded upon the domination and control of women,” said Mr. Justice Robert Maranger of Superior Court.

Defense Lawyer David Crowe was “disappointed” with the outcome and promised an appeal following the trial.

The bodies of sisters Zainab, 19, Sahar, 17, and Geeti Shafia, 13, were found at Rideau Canal in a submerged car in June 2009. Rona Amir Mohammad, 53, Mr. Shafia’s first wife, was also in the submerged vehicle. Mohammad posed as Shafia’s cousin and entered Canada illegally. Mohammad was in a polygamous relationship with Shafia and his 2nd wife, but indicated to desperately escape the marriage.

The family denied drowning their female relatives and were booed upon leaving the courtroom.