'He was my idol': Brother of aspiring musician devastated after fatal botched car theft, judge told

When JovaughanMeek was fatally shot in the driver's seat of his car during a failed carjacking in Calgary, his family was already mourning the death of another sibling who had died of an illness just months earlier.

Meek, 28, was shot in the face while buckled in the driver's seat of his car in April 2020.

Originally charged with second-degree murder, Taylor Calfchild, 25, pleaded guilty to manslaughter Monday.

Meek was the second oldest of six siblings. Ten months before he was killed, his sister died of an illness.

A self-taught musician, Meekhad been working for Burnco for six years and was helping his family financially.

"My family lost the pillar that held us up, the anchor that keeps us grounded and the light that guided us through the thundering storm," wrotehis brother Jeron Meek in a victim impact statement.

'He was my idol'

Meek's uncle, a police officer in Jamaica, drove a BMW, so Meeksaved up to buy one himself. It was a prized possession.

Meek was obsessed with reading, sometimes he had three books on the go at the same time, according to his family.His favourite topics, according to Jeron, were music, computer coding, history and philosophy.

"Jovie was a brilliant soul," wrote Jeron.

"Growing up, he was the person I aspired to be, he wasmy idol."

Confrontation in Sunalta

Calfchild and Meek did not know each other but had a mutual acquaintance.

On the night of April 9, 2020, Calfchild and a friend were outside the Sunalta apartment building where the brother of Meek's girlfriendlived.

Calfchild asked if he and his friend could get a ride but Meek's car was full.

When Calfchild didn't get his way, he pulled out a gun and demanded Meek get out of the vehicle.

Calfchild's friend tried to stop him and grab the gun but it went off and Meek was shot in the face.

He died on the way to hospital.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Karen Horner accepted a joint submission for a six-year prison term proposed by prosecutor Pam McCluskey and defence lawyer James McLeod. With credit for the time he's already served, Calfchild has about 3 years left.