TEARS, FAITH MARK KILLER’S SENTENCING April 7, 2009 The mother and cousin of a 22-year-old Roxbury Community College student shot to death at a July 4, 2007, family cookout remembered the slain young man and blasted the schism his murder drove through a once-strong community of relatives. “The sense of sadness in the courtroom was palpable,” Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said, “but there was a feeling of relief as well that justice had finally been done. Their grief continues, but at least the waiting is over.” Almost two years after shooting Michael Wiggins in the chest near the intersection of Arbutus and Ashford streets in Dorchester, CORNELIUS BROWN (D.O.B. 6/25/74) received the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder, a life term at he Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Cedar Junction without the possibility of parole. Prior to ordering that sentence, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Thomas E. Connolly heard impact statements from Wiggins’ mother and cousin. “The time we shared was precious, maybe now more than ever,” she said, clutching a pin emblazoned with her son’s name and visage, “and I thank you for those moments you graced us with your presence.” She remembered the “personal conversations, jokes, plans, and memories” they shared, pledging to hold them “forever in my heart.” “The journey for you has just begun,” she said. “Soar through the Heavens above in peace, my angel.” The slain man’s cousin, Serena Groom, addressed two factions of a family riven by Wiggins’ homicide and Brown’s prosecution. “Since this devastation, there have been … tears, threats, fear, and, yes, anger,” she said. “Familial relationships have been ripped apart – some currently hanging by a thread, some severed for good, and some … strengthened by the events of the past two years.” Groom implored the court to “consider the family members of Michael who … are now at odds because of fear of retribution for speaking for Michael, who can no longer speak for himself. Please consider the family members who fear walking the streets of Boston, who fear reprisal because they look too much like someone else who had the courage to come forward and speak out at the injustice of this act.” Finally, Groom recalled the story of Cain, who killed his brother Abel and feigned ignorance when asked by God of the dead man’s whereabouts. “‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’” She quoted. “I ask that you consider tehse words as you prepare to sentence Mr. Brown – words as spoken by Cain to the Lord when asked ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ Consider the Lord’s admonishment to Cain ... ‘What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.’” Steeling herself, she looked across the room at Brown and said, “On behalf of the Wiggins family, I ask Mr. Brown, ‘Where is your brother Michael?’” Visibly moved by their “magnificent” statements, Connolly ordered Brown to be seated as he stood to be escorted from the room by court officers. “A family party on the Fourth of July and you show up with a gun,” the judge said. “Why you carried that gun I don’t have the slightest idea. I suspect you wanted to be a big man … part of it may be because of how little you had accomplished in your life aside from a criminal record.” Evidence introduced by Assistant District Attorney Cory Flashner during the two-week trial showed that fisticuffs had erupted between a friend of the defendant and a relative of the victim shortly before 7:30 p.m. Testimony demonstrated that Wiggins had just exited a nearby car and was approaching the altercation when Brown, armed with a revolver, opened fire. One of the rounds struck Wiggins in the torso. He was rushed to Boston Medical Center for emergency surgery that kept him alive for six days. He succumbed to his injuries on July 10. Brown was represented by attorney Robert Galibois II. Return to the Press Releases page.