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), Paynesa国际传媒檚 family and friends gave heart-wrenching statements about his joyous and supportive presence, but also described how theysa国际传媒檇 never recover from knowing his final moments were a sa国际传媒渧icious butchering.sa国际传媒�

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 Metchosinsa国际传媒檚 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 shesa国际传媒檒l be killed whenever she walks through her front door.

sa国际传媒淎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 sa国际传媒� one last time sa国际传媒� that that thought gave him the peace to take on everything that was happening in that moment and that freed him from all pain.sa国际传媒�

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 donsa国际传媒檛 have a grandfather.

sa国际传媒淎sk me in 50 years, when Isa国际传媒檓 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.sa国际传媒�

Calla said the two men unknowingly chose to take on a family thatsa国际传媒檚 fiercely loyal to the ones they love and who will take on the men for the rest of their lives.

Paynesa国际传媒檚 sister Colleen was outside the home as officers first found his body. Shesa国际传媒檒l never forget the look on the face of the officer exiting the home and walking slowly over to her. Shesa国际传媒檚 since felt disconnected, doesnsa国际传媒檛 socialize like she used to and wants to be alone. Colleen thinks of Paynesa国际传媒檚 murder every day, something she never thought could happen to her baby brother Marty.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a hole in my heart that can never be repaired.sa国际传媒�

Family members expressed the mental anguish sa国际传媒� marked by intense anxiety, panic attacks, depression and fear sa国际传媒� they face when the thought of Martinsa国际传媒檚 last moments enters their minds. They struggle with not being there to help as he was met with sa国际传媒渦nimaginable terrorsa国际传媒� in the safety of his own home.

sa国际传媒淭his thought is unbearable for me,sa国际传媒� his daughter Jessica said. sa国际传媒淗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.sa国际传媒�

Judge David Crossin, who presided over Buschsa国际传媒檚 trial, said he deeply regrets that the criminal justice system cannot take away the loved onessa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淚t was a cold-blooded killing for reasons that escape me. But you didnsa国际传媒檛 just kill, you butchered and mutilated him and left him lying in his own blood,sa国际传媒� Crossin said before sentencing Busch. sa国际传媒淚t was hateful, it was unspeakable.sa国际传媒�

The friends and family said theysa国际传媒檒l never be the same after losing Payne sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淗e had a way of making me remember who I am and encouraged me to love that person.sa国际传媒�

Her dadsa国际传媒檚 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 thatsa国际传媒檚 been difficult for her to recover since his life was taken.

sa国际传媒淗is care was so clear and so golden.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淗e helped me feel grounded and connected to the world,sa国际传媒� Jessica said. sa国际传媒淢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.sa国际传媒�

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 Paynesa国际传媒檚 ex-wife Catherine was sa国际传媒渞ipped awaysa国际传媒� and it felt as if shesa国际传媒檇 been hit by a truck when she heard of his death.

sa国际传媒淚 miss him every day. Itsa国际传媒檚 an ache inside me, I want to be able to talk to him about our daughters,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淢y world is diminished.sa国际传媒�

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