Two teenaged boys have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Brian Kachur, a 19-year old graffiti artist from Verdun.
Kachur's body was found floating in the St. Lawrence River last November 15. He had been badly beaten and tossed into the water.
His parents believe he was killed in what they describe as a turf war over graffiti.
Theresa Brochet, Kachur's mother, told CTV Montreal reporter Rob Lurie that her son had apparently spray painted over the graffiti of another artist.
"I understand it was a question of cross-tagging graffiti," she said.
Two months after Kachur's death, police released a surveillance video that showed him walking with three other youngsters.
On Monday afternoon, police arrested two boys, aged 15 and 16.
They appeared in youth court on Tuesday to face charges, but Kachur's mother said she is still suffering greatly.
"I thought it would bring some type of relief, but the pain doesn't go away. No one wins here," she said.
If convicted, Crown prosecutor Karen Ohayon plans to have both boys sentenced as adults, so they would spend more time in jail.
"In the case of a youth who is sentenced as an adult for second-degree murder, it's a five to seven year minimum period," said Ohayon.
The teens are scheduled to return to court next week, and will remain behind bars until then.
