Connor Whitehead's family says there is "no victory" for them as they leave court after two men were found guilty of manslaughter, not murder.
Connor, 16, was shot dead while attending a party in Christchurch on November 5, 2021.
On Wednesday, Joshua David Craig Smith, 33, and Daniel Nelson Sparks, 44, were found guilty of manslaughter at Chirstchurch's High Court.
Whitehead's family were in tears as they sat in Christchurch High Court's public gallery after the jury delivered the verdict that the pair were not guilty of murder but rather manslaughter.
Connor's father James Whitehead spoke to the media on behalf of their family outside court after the verdict.
He thanked Aotearoa for its love and support.
"It has been the worst time of our lives losing our boy, losing Connor, and having to relive that time over the past few weeks has just been hell for us," James said.
He said the verdict "is what it is".
"At the end of the day, this may sound bad, but I don't care. I don't care what happens to those men. There is no victory for us here today. We don't get our Connor back when we go home," James said.
"We want to move forward and love our loved ones and remember Connor, remember our boy, remember our friend."
Every day Connor's family came to court, clutching a photo of him as they listened to what happened the tragic day his life was cut short.
"From the start, we have been here for Connor and that's how it is always going to be," James said.
"Connor would say, 'Shame, oh shame, shame dad... Don't do this'. But that's Connor, he is a teenage boy. But I know that he's proud of us. He's proud of his mum and his sisters and his big brother and me, I hope he's proud of me.
"We love you Connor, we miss you, forever Connor."
