Life Sentence for South End Brothers Convicted in 2014 Murder

Boston, MA - Two brothers convinced in the 2014 killing of Christopher Borgella during a Dorchester brawl have received mandatory life sentences, the district attorney's office said Tuesday.

South End Boston Brothers Harold and Shawn Coleman, age 28 and 24, were sentenced after last week's conviction in connection to 22-year-old Borgella's death during a fight outside a Dorchester hotel.

The jury convicted the brothers of second-degree murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon last week. Patch previously reported the details of that conviction here.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Linda Giles imposed the mandatory term of life in prison, with parole eligibility after 15 years, on the brothers Tuesday morning.

Before handing down the life sentences, the district attorney's office press release said, Giles heard an impact statement written by Borgella’s mother:

“We pride ourselves on being all that we can be to show our kids down all the right paths. My son will never get to pursue his dreams of playing professional basketball, nor will he ever get a chance at marriage, he will never get to have his own children and instill the word of god, education and determination in them as I did in him. Sleepless nights, depression, anxiety all things that have come with this tragedy … my life will never and could never be the same.”