Martin Payne spread his kindness, love, compassion and gentle spirit to everyone he met.

As one of the men who murdered the 60-year-old father was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday (Dec. 15), Payne含羞草研究社檚 family and friends gave heart-wrenching statements about his joyous and supportive presence, but also described how they含羞草研究社檇 never recover from knowing his final moments were a 含羞草研究社渧icious butchering.含羞草研究社�

James Lee Busch was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 25 years for his role in the first-degree murder, which he committed with Zachary Armitage after the pair escaped Metchosin含羞草研究社檚 William Head prison.

Calla Payne said her father was a constant source of love and support, but the selfish actions of the two men have taken that away and altered her life forever.

The senseless loss of her dad impacts every aspect of her life as she struggles with PTSD and anxiety that makes her terrified that she含羞草研究社檒l be killed whenever she walks through her front door.

含羞草研究社淎ll I can do is hope, hope that in his final moments, he imagined us putting our arms around him, in a massive group hug 含羞草研究社� one last time 含羞草研究社� that that thought gave him the peace to take on everything that was happening in that moment and that freed him from all pain.含羞草研究社�

The trauma she faces now will evolve in the future as she walks herself down the aisle or explains to her future children why they don含羞草研究社檛 have a grandfather.

含羞草研究社淎sk me in 50 years, when I含羞草研究社檓 telling family stories to my grandchildren and have to include this deeply traumatic and terrifying story about what happened in July 2019 and how it has interrupted and changed our family forever.含羞草研究社�

Calla said the two men unknowingly chose to take on a family that含羞草研究社檚 fiercely loyal to the ones they love and who will take on the men for the rest of their lives.

Payne含羞草研究社檚 sister Colleen was outside the home as officers first found his body. She含羞草研究社檒l never forget the look on the face of the officer exiting the home and walking slowly over to her. She含羞草研究社檚 since felt disconnected, doesn含羞草研究社檛 socialize like she used to and wants to be alone. Colleen thinks of Payne含羞草研究社檚 murder every day, something she never thought could happen to her baby brother Marty.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a hole in my heart that can never be repaired.含羞草研究社�

Family members expressed the mental anguish 含羞草研究社� marked by intense anxiety, panic attacks, depression and fear 含羞草研究社� they face when the thought of Martin含羞草研究社檚 last moments enters their minds. They struggle with not being there to help as he was met with 含羞草研究社渦nimaginable terror含羞草研究社� in the safety of his own home.

含羞草研究社淭his thought is unbearable for me,含羞草研究社� his daughter Jessica said. 含羞草研究社淗is murder was a betrayal of the cumulative joy that he gave to the world. He was a truly beautiful person who I hold in the inner depths of my heart and he did not deserve to die this way.含羞草研究社�

Judge David Crossin, who presided over Busch含羞草研究社檚 trial, said he deeply regrets that the criminal justice system cannot take away the loved ones含羞草研究社� sense of loss, make them whole or bring Payne back. He then accosted Busch for extinguishing the life of a good man who was simply returning from work.

含羞草研究社淚t was a cold-blooded killing for reasons that escape me. But you didn含羞草研究社檛 just kill, you butchered and mutilated him and left him lying in his own blood,含羞草研究社� Crossin said before sentencing Busch. 含羞草研究社淚t was hateful, it was unspeakable.含羞草研究社�

The friends and family said they含羞草研究社檒l never be the same after losing Payne 含羞草研究社� a man with an exuberance for life, a hearty laugh and a kindness that permeated even while just chatting with strangers.

Jessica said her father was a kind, easy-going, gentle-hearted, thoughtful and playful man. He would brighten the day of anyone around him, always had her back and was the one who truly understood her.

含羞草研究社淗e had a way of making me remember who I am and encouraged me to love that person.含羞草研究社�

Her dad含羞草研究社檚 dislike for air travel was no match for his need to visit her on the other side of the world, a flight Payne made multiple times. Payne gave Jessica a sense of self-worth that含羞草研究社檚 been difficult for her to recover since his life was taken.

含羞草研究社淗is care was so clear and so golden.含羞草研究社�

She said their love was without complication and his presence brought her ease. Payne was always there to listen to her issues and shoulder the emotional burden in order to lessen its weight. They shared a love for nature that saw the two often staring at the horizon from a beach or mountain, usually while cracking jokes or taking a goofy selfie.

含羞草研究社淗e helped me feel grounded and connected to the world,含羞草研究社� Jessica said. 含羞草研究社淢y father was the joy, humour and positivity in our lives, he reminded me through his general outlook on life to look at the bright side.含羞草研究社�

Jessica feels plagued by unshakeable apathy and like her life is half-lived since the murder. She struggles to feel connected or find passion or interest in things she once loved.

A large part of Payne含羞草研究社檚 ex-wife Catherine was 含羞草研究社渞ipped away含羞草研究社� and it felt as if she含羞草研究社檇 been hit by a truck when she heard of his death.

含羞草研究社淚 miss him every day. It含羞草研究社檚 an ache inside me, I want to be able to talk to him about our daughters,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淢y world is diminished.含羞草研究社�

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