Jury deliberates in bush party shooting trial

Deliberations are underway in the bush party murder trial, and the fate of the accused is now in the hands of a jury.

In her day-long charge to the jury on Thursday, Superior Court Justice Patricia Moore detailed the extensive testimony from all of the witnesses called to the stand over the last several weeks. She also reviewed, in detail, the evidence presented throughout the trial, which began October 15.

Carlos Guerra Guerra, now 23, is charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Western University student 18-year-old Josue Silva. The charge is in connection to incidents at a bush party on Pack Road in London on July 31, 2021.

Justice Moore told members of the jury that they must consider whether Guerra Guerra acted in self defence when he brought a gun to the party, pulled it out of his satchel, and fired it at Silva during a fight.

Josue Silva is seen in this undated family photo. (Source: Westview Funeral Chapel)

She added that they must also consider Guerra Guerra’s version of events, in which he shot at Silva while fearing for his life, as Silva stood over him holding a machete. Moore reminded the jury that a machete was found at the crime scene, and that a forensic biologist testified the DNA found on its handle had a high likelihood of coming from Silva.

The jury has been directed to consider whether Guerra Guerra is guilty or not guilty of second-degree murder. Alternatively, the jury could find him not guilty of second degree murder, but guilty of manslaughter, guilty or not guilty of assault with a weapon, or not guilty of assault with a weapon but guilty of assault.