Family erupts in emotion as man found guilty of first-degree murder in death of Windsor mom

Cheers, tears and hugs filled the overflow courtroom when family members of victim Autumn Taggart heard the first-degree murder verdict for the man who admitted to killing the 31-year-old mom.

Before the verdict was read in court, about a dozen family members huddled together for a group hug and an emotional prayer saying: "We love you Autumn."

Jitesh Bhogal was found guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday morning by a jury of 12 people — four women and eight men. They've been deliberating since Monday at around 5 p.m. 

"There are no words to express what any of us were feeling. She's still gone. She's not coming back," said Jolayne Lausch, Taggart's mother. "Bittersweet."

"That ache is always going to be there but at least this gives us a little bit of healing," said John Taggart, the victim's father.

Bhogal admitted while testifying that he killed Taggart on June 10, 2018, though he says it was accidental. 

The events leading up to Taggart's death, started in the early morning hours when Bhogal bought cocaine from two drug dealers. He said he did several lines of cocaine that night, which he claims was his first time trying the drug.

After the two dealers stole some of his cash and the cocaine he had purchased, Bhogal testified he went looking for them. All of this took place outside of Taggart's third-floor apartment.

Jurors heard the victim was "completely uninvolved" in the events leading up to Bhogal entering her apartment.

Bhogal testified he doesn't remember how he got into her bedroom, although he admits it's possible he scaled the building and entered through the balcony. He said he put his hands over her mouth and nose until she stopped screaming. 

"And then the screaming stops, I didn't know why until I sort of saw the injuries I had caused," said Bhogal.

He then claims to have performed CPR on her body, but testified he doesn't remember how he left the apartment building.

An autopsy showed injuries of a sexual assault, which Bhogal denied. But since the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in this case, that also means they found he committed the sexual act. Had they not, Bhogal would have been found guilty of second-degree murder, according to instructions read to the jury before deliberations.

The Crown says he was lying about not remembering all of the details, and that he knew his actions would cause her death.