Duane Squires recalls a moment from last year when his oldest son misplaced a Jibbitz shoe charm from his Crocs. Squires and his wife accompanied their son back to the spot where he believed it had fallen off. In a statement to the Court of King’s Bench, Squires, a detective constable with the Saint John Police Force, shared the emotional experience of searching for the lost charm, highlighting its significance to his son as a connection to a deceased friend.
The tragic incident involved the stabbing deaths of a 10-year-old boy and his 17-year-old brother, who were members of a basketball team. Following the murders, the team honored the youngest victim by creating Jibbitz and stickers featuring his jersey number.
Roman Kamyshnyy, the boys’ father, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in a trial that revealed his motive as vengeance against his ex-wife following their divorce. Despite Kamyshnyy’s claim of memory loss during the incidents, evidence demonstrated the calculated nature of the crimes.
Justice Darrell Stephenson sentenced Kamyshnyy to two concurrent life sentences without parole for 25 years. The impact of the murders resonated deeply within the community, as reflected in emotional victim impact statements submitted by individuals affected by the tragedy.
The devastating loss of the young victims reverberated beyond their families, affecting the school community, first responders, and the city of Saint John. The profound impact of the murders on various individuals, including investigators and community members, highlighted the need for support and compassion in the aftermath of such senseless violence. The tragedy left a lasting mark on all those touched by it, emphasizing the importance of unity and support in the face of grief and loss.