John Herrera Garcia's widow offers message of forgiveness

John Herrera Garcia's widow says she hopes the three people accused of murdering her husband find peace and says they deserve a second chance in life.

Every day of the two-week trial, Gloria Herrera and her sister came to court, at times crying throughthe difficult details.Today, she put that griefit into words.

"This has been an unimaginable tragedy for us as well as for the families of the accused," said Herrera."It is a horrific experience that I sincerely hope will be a lesson for all of us."

Herrera Garcia, 49, was walking home with groceries when he was viciously attacked in the Beltline in May 2012, kicked repeatedly in the head and face. He never recovered and died in hospital four months later.

Garrett Smith, 29, Jarod Henry, 25, and Chantelle Campbell, 30, are all charged with second-degree murder.Campbell and Henry's lawyers have all asked the jury to find the pair guilty of lesser offences. Smith's has asked for an outright acquittal.

"Whatever the verdict and legal repercussions, may God provide these troubled youths with enlightenment and wisdom to make positive changes in their lives," wrote Herrera, "I hope they come to understand how misguided their actions were on that fateful night."

Everyone deserves a second chance in life.- Gloria Herrera

Herrera thanked the jury, police, prosecutors, witnesses and Calgarians.

She also had a message to the three accused.

"Everyone deserves a second chance in life," saidHerrera.

The message came today, right after the jury began deliberations.

"When they do ultimately find that peace, may they do their utmost to make amends by doing good for and giving love to others they may encounter on their life journeys," she wrote.

"On behalf of my departed husband, I want them to know that he would want each of them to have another opportunity to do right by the world and help make it a better place."