91原创鈥檚 Brad McPherson was murdered on Christmas Eve day 2011 in retaliation for trying to intervene when a woman was being harassed.

On Friday, Russell Atma Bidesi was found guilty in the fatal shooting of the 28-year-old.

鈥淢cPherson was shot and killed while at an after-hours party inside a residence鈥� in Newton, said IHIT spokesperson Cpl. Frank Jang.

Bidesi was identified as a suspect during the course of the investigation. His trial began in September 2017 and the verdict came down Feb. 16, 2018.

鈥淣o family should have to wait this long,鈥� said Susan Simning, Brad鈥檚 mother, adding 鈥淵our life is on hold.鈥�

She鈥檚 been in court throughout the trial and said the courts need to impose tougher sentences and that if the courts had been tougher on Bidesi, who has a long history within the legal system, maybe her son and the other person he was convicted of killing might be alive.

Bidesi was convicted of manslaughter in the death of 31-year-old Kacey Rogers in 2012 during a botched home invasion. Bidesi was charged with second-degree murder but it was dropped down to manslaughter.

Roger鈥檚 aunt was in court during the trial for McPherson鈥檚 death. On Friday, Roger鈥檚 mother attended.

鈥淲e hugged and cried,鈥� Simning said.

The sentencing is March 29.

鈥淗e should never see the light of day,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e pretty confident [the judge] will throw the book at him.鈥�

Though angered by the many court delays, Simning is pleased that the court rendered a verdict on second-degree murder and did not downgrade the charge.

鈥淚HIT believes in justice for those who have died unfairly. What motivates our investigators are the family members left behind with their pain of loss. If we can do our job and a person is held accountable for murder, we hope that provides some small measure of peace to the family,鈥� Jang said.

JUSTICE FOR BRADLEY MCPHERSON: On Christmas Eve 2011, 27y/o Bradley McPherson was killed while at an after-hours party. Today, Russell Atma Bidesi was found guilty of 2nd degree murder in B.C. Supreme Court for Mr. McPherson's death.

鈥� IHIT (@HomicideTeam)

McPherson鈥檚 death prompted his mother to start a scholarship that has benefited students at Clayton Heights Secondary and North Delta Senior Secondary. More recently, 91原创 Secondary students have been helped. Simning said it moves around to area schools to aid more youth.

鈥淏rad was diagnosed when he was three with ADHD,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚t [learning] was always a challenge so when he graduated, I was over the moon.鈥�

Simning said it was her son鈥檚 nature to help others. After his murder, she went on to organize the scholarship effort, with funds coming from a burnout car show, because her son was a big automobile buff.

鈥淚t keeps Brad鈥檚 memory alive,鈥� she said.

The Burnouts in the Sky fundraiser is scheduled for Aug. 18 of this year at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.

After living in Port Kells for many years, Simning was moving to 91原创.

鈥淗e was just moving with me when it happened,鈥� she said of his murder.

Brad was working at the 91原创 Best Buy and in security, including the Merritt Mountain Music Festival.

Simning is still haunted by the knock on her door that Christmas Eve day of 2011 when she was told of his death.