In the dead of a warm September night, an evil spectre invaded the tight-knit Ali family home.
And on a frigid December day more than three years later, a semblance of justice has been restored.
On Friday in a Hamilton courtroom, Justice Paul Sweeney sentenced three men to 17 years in prison for the “heinous” manslaughter death of Hasnain (Nano) Ali, 21, the wounding of his brother and the violent kidnapping of his father.
Their evil actions left a family shattered and forever “heartbroken.”
“This was truly a heinous crime. It is the stuff of nightmares,” Sweeney told the men before him.
John Bartley, 28, Gino McCall, 37, and Antoine Chambers, 29, all of Hamilton, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, aggravated assault and kidnapping in a plea deal.
Chambers acted as driver and lookout.
The men had originally been charged with first-degree murder.
Around 3 a.m. on Sept. 16, 2021, the trio attempted a home invasion at the Ali family home in Mount Hope believing – wrongly – that the patriarch was sitting on $400,000.
In a heroic attempt to save his father, Hasnain (Nano) Ali was shot in the abdomen. The law student died later that morning in hospital. His brother was shot in the buttocks with the bullet shattering his pelvis.
Father Faqir Ali was beaten and pistol-whipped before being dumped at a park near Beach Blvd. on the Hamilton waterfront.
The aftermath was devastating as heard in victim impact statements.
Brother Sibtain – who was shot and wounded in the attack – said in a statement read in court that the family is “forever changed” and that death has only deepened the siblings’ bond.
“He was the kind of person who always showed up no matter what,” Sibtain wrote, adding his brother had “strength, kindness and courage.”
“There is now an emptiness in my life. I am heartbroken by the actions of these men.”
His sister Sarah noted that because of her brother’s heroic actions that day, he is a “martyr.”
“Nano was a hero and his actions define the love that was taken from us. The three individuals responsible will never be forgiven,” she said, before looking straight at the trio and adding, “nor do you deserve it.”
The now-convicted men looked straight ahead. And as Nano’s mother delivered her victim impact statement, McCall buried his head in his hands and bent down.
Barely able to control her tears, Fauzia Ali spoke of the “profound grief” that lies only in a mother’s heart and being “helpless to save my children.”
“They were trying to protect us, and I watched them fall. I saw the blood of my son … I can still hear him gasping for his last breaths,” she said, struggling to keep her composure.
“Now, I have to visit him at his gravesite, every day. I go to him where he is resting.”
She added: “God only takes in the best.”
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Her husband Faqir Ali – the target of the plot – said he remembers every moment he spent with his late son.
“I only survived [the kidnapping and beating] because I hoped to see my lovely family … I wasn’t there when he was leaving this world,” Faqir said quietly. “‘Where is Nano,’ I asked, but no one answered until my son told me, ‘Nano is gone.’”
He added: “My son’s legacy of love will live on.”
Only one of the convicted men – Chambers – did not have a prior criminal record.
His lawyer, Monte MacGregor, turned to the Ali family and spoke from the heart.
“I’m truly sorry for your loss. You don’t belong here. You’re not supposed to be here,” the lawyer said, adding, “it likely seems there is no justice … this will not repair you. He [Chambers] hopes and I hope you find some degree of closure.”