Not guilty verdicts in the fatal shooting of 11 years Ephraim Brown (the globe and mail)

Published Monday, December 13, 2010 2 H 01 ESTLast updated 13 December 2010 2 H 23 EST12 comments

Two men from Toronto have been found not guilty of second degree murder in the death of 11-year old boy who was killed in an outdoor birthday party.

Ephraim Brown had been allowed to stay later than usual for the party when he was killed crossfire when gunfire, ranking at the beginning of July 22, 2007.

Today, a jury returned not guilty verdicts against Gregory Sappleton, Akiel Eubank, also 24 24.

The Board heard that Mr. Eubank was a member of gang called five Point Generalz and the Crown claimed Mr. Sappleton was a member of a rival gang - team of Baghdad.

Police said that ephraim was enjoying the night with the brothers and sisters and cousins to the two daughters aged 18 birthday party when the gatecrashers began arriving.

The crowd behind their townhouse Sheppard Avenue W complex in Northwest Toronto increased up to 70 people - including some of the rival gangs.

Around 1 p.m., fire up a dozen ranking in a passage between townhouses. Apparently, at least a bullet has torn the Ephraim neck, injuring fatally boy described by his family as a joker basketball-loving, polite.

Murder has just two months after the 9th student Jordan Manners, 15, was shot to death in her high school in the same area of the city.

The reaction of the province, with the Ontario Attorney General has led to renew calls for a federal ban on handguns senseless deaths.