WARNING: This story contains violent, graphic content. Discretion is advised.
CALGARY – A 28-year-old man has pleaded guilty to killing a Calgary mother and her young son in Evanston two years ago. Chona Manzano, 35, and her five-year-old son Gabrial Manzano were found stabbed to death in a home in the 200 block of Evanspark Circle on May 16th, 2013.
Erwin Manzano and his sister Emmylou Nolasco left court with broken hearts, but with the knowledge there will be justice for Manzano’s wife and son.
Guevara Wilson Clorina, Manzano’s cousin, was accused of two counts of first-degree murder, but on the night of his four-week jury trial, he made a last minute deal. Clorina pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder in the death of Chona and first-degree murder of Gabrial.
“That’s what we were praying for—that we’re not gonna go through the trial—because we don’t want our family to go through everything again,” said Nolasco.
GALLERY: Inside the Evanston double murder investigation
Details of the case are horrific: Clorina stabbed Chona to death, while her little boy watched. Clorina used such force, one of the knife blades bent.
The five-year-old ran, arming himself with a backscratcher, but Clorina hunted him down, and he met the same fate.
Erwin and Chona had sponsored Clorina to come to Canada from the Philippines, and treated him as a trusted family member. Clorina worked as the Manzanos live-in-nanny for several years.
The family of Chona and Gabrial looked at Clorina with disgust, feeling betrayed.
“It’s more of anger…because we got him from back home and this is what happened,” said Nolasco.
“We give him everything, help his family,” said Erwin Manzano.
“For him, better future, and this is how he paid me: Took my wife and took my son.”
The prosecution and defence will make a joint submission for a sentence, which could happen as soon as Tuesday. Clorina will likely serve 35 years before being eligible for parole.
“He’s remorseful, he feels bad for what happened and he’s evidencing that by his pleas here today,” said Clorina’s defence lawyer, Kim Ross.
Family members will now try to put into words the effect of the murders of Chona and Gabrial as they write victim impact statements.
“This is like justice for my sister-in-law, Chona Manzano, and for my nephew, Gabrial Manzano,” said Nolasco.
With files from Melissa Ramsay
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