Man sentenced for brother’s death says he’s sorry”I didn’t always get along with my brother, Brian, but I loved him. I miss him … I’m sorry, and I know I can’t take it back.”
With those words, Charles Harry Brothers Jr., 44, of Dunbar Township concluded testimony Friday at his sentencing hearing for the shooting death of his brother, Brian Allen Brothers of Brownsville. Brothers pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter April 3 in the Aug. 30, 2006, fatal shooting.
Fayette County Judge Steve P. Leskinen sentenced Charles Brothers to 3 1/2 to 10 years in state prison following emotional testimony from Charles Brothers and from the Brothers’ family.
Charles Brothers wept openly as he listened to several statements of support from his family.
Susan Rae Jones, one of 11 brothers and sisters in the Brothers family, testified Friday that the anguish and heartache her family is enduring could not be greater.
“I loved and continue to love both Brian and Charles,” Jones testified. “Charles, I know that you still cry every day not for yourself but for Brian. There is not one person in our family that thought you intended to harm Brian.”
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the family, Brian’s widow, Virginia Brothers of Brownsville, testified at length about her late husband, who she described as “a loving and faithful husband.”
Virginia Brothers said her husband was an avid hunter and fisherman, enjoyed skiing, riding his motorcycle, playing with animals and family get-togethers.
“Brian was everything to me,” she said. “Without him I feel totally lost and very alone … my thoughts and prayers are with his family… he loved them so.”
“I’m sorry my brother and I argued,” Charles Brothers told the court just before sentencing. “I’m sorry it got out of hand. I’m sorry I picked up that gun. I’m sorry that he died.”
Leskinen said during the sentencing that while the testimony presented weighed heavily in his decision, he had to follow the rule of law.
According to Leskinen, Charles Brothers pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, not involuntary manslaughter, which would have allowed for a lighter sentence.
And while he was sympathetic to the family and Charles Brothers, Leskinen concluded that Charles Brothers made a fatal miscalculation the day of the shooting death.
“At the very least, the defendant made the mistake of inserting a gun where no gun was present,” Leskinen said. “If there had been no gun, there would have been no death.”
Leskinen also ordered Charles Brothers to pay more than $3,400 in restitution to Virginia Brothers.
According to state trooper John Marshall, Brian Brothers came to his brother’s home at 523 Laurel Lane to argue about money owed to him by Charles Brothers’ son for the purchase of a pickup truck.
Marshall said an argument over payment for the vehicle ensued during which Brian threatened to “beat up” Charles’ son.
“He said this made him angry,” Marshall said in his report.
Charles then picked up a loaded .270-caliber Remington rifle that was stored in the living room of the home and was allegedly going to shoot the ceiling when the gun went off and the round struck his brother in the cheek, Marshall said.
Charles Brothers later provided trooper Timothy Knapp with a written and recorded statement confessing that he shot his brother, Marshall said.
Fayette County Deputy Coroner Jessie Langer pronounced Brian Brothers dead at the scene at 1:36 p.m.
Police said the Uniontown barracks received a call from Charles Brothers reporting the shooting around 12:15 p.m.
State police investigators swarmed the white and green clapboard mobile home on Laurel Lane off Hardy Hill Road shortly after the 911 call.
Around 1 p.m., Charles Brothers, covered in blood, was led from the scene in handcuffs.
Charles Brothers’ family and defense attorney said Friday that he pleaded no contest to the charges because he didn’t want to put his family through more anguish by having a trial.
He will be remanded to State Correctional Institution at Greene for incarceration.