Woman who testified against brother sobs in his arms after murder conviction

Moments after he was convicted of first-degree murder, Glenn Randall's heartbroken sister who testified against him wept in his arms as the sheriff allowed a final hug before he was taken to prison to begin serving a life sentence.

Randall, who lived in Strathmore, Alta., fatally shot his ex-girlfriend Brenda Walker in the head in January 2015.

The jury, which had been deliberating since Monday,found Randall guilty of first-degree murder Tuesday morning. He testified that he loved Brenda and never wanted her dead.

"It's hard to get into somebody's mind to try and understand why they would so something so awful to somebody they professed to love," said prosecutor Lori Chambers.

• 'I shot her,' Strathmore man tells sister before divulging plan to die in suicide-by-cop scenario

During the trial, jurors heard that on Jan. 6, 2015, after he walked over to Walker's home anddrunkenly shot her in the head. Randall got in his truck and called his two sisters in New Brunswick to confess.

Wendy Baxter was called by the prosecution to testify against her brother two weeks ago. She wept as she told the story of the early morning phone call she received from her intoxicated brother. Baxter begged her brother to turn himself in.

Both of Randall's sisters testified their brother wasa loving man who had never exhibited any signs of violence.

"They were nothing but gracious throughout the proceedings," Chambers said of the sisters. "I can't even imagine how difficult it was to be in the position that they were in."

Baxter was allowed to hug her brother in the courtroom before he was taken away by sheriffs. She sobbed in his arms and he kissed the top of her head before he was led away.

Randall has always admitted to killing Walker but his lawyers argued he should be found guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Defence lawyers Jennifer Ruttan and Michael Bates argued their client was too drunk to form the intent necessary to commit first-degree murder.

Randall and Walker broke up in late December 2014 because she felt he was too close with his former girlfriend.

Prosecutors Jim Sawa and Lori Chambers suggested to jurors that Randall's text messages to Walker the night she was killed show he became increasingly angry with her.

After midnight, Randall walked down the block to Walker's home.

When he arrived, armed with a loaded gun, she called 911, telling the operator that she feared for her life.

On the 911 call, Randall can be heard saying,"I love you, I'm sorry," before the gun is fired.

• 'I love you, I'm sorry,' killer told ex-girlfriend before shooting her in the head, jurors hear

Brenda 'campaigned for the underdog'

Several of Walker's friends wrote victim impact statements describing a woman with a big heart who "didn't have a mean bone in her body" and who always "campaigned for the underdog."

Walker left behind a son, who she loved "to the moon and back," according to her best friend of 20 years,Carla Fabian.

Justice Earl Wilson told Walkers' loved ones "their pain is not forgotten or overlooked."

Randall offered an apology right before he was sentenced by Wilson to life in prison.

"I'm so very sorry this happened," said Randall. "Although Brenda is gone, she will continue to live in my heart forever."

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