TORONTO

Mark “Mr. Murder” Moore declared in court Tuesday that he’s “not some psychologically disturbed individual” intent on hurting innocent people.

“I, Mark Garfield Moore, am devastated by the four victims’ loss of life and the immense pain their loved ones must be feeling,” said the 31-year-old rapper who was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder.

Moore noted he also lost a brother to gun violence.

“I understand how hard it is to move on with your life following a tragic, untimely death,” he said.

A jury determined that Moore committed the planned, deliberate murders of Jahmeel Spence, Courthney Facey, Michael James and Carl Cole. Moore blamed Justice Michael Dambrot and his poor choices of friends, but not himself, for the convictions.

Thirty-two family members and supporters of Moore’s victims exited the courtroom to signal their disgust as the convicted murderer spoke. Twenty others remained in court and some snickered at his comments.

Moore accused Dambrot of undermining his fair trial.

“He referred to me as ‘Mr. Murder’ on three or more occasions while instructing the jury,” said Moore. “Justice has not been served. I will appeal.”

Dambrot erroneously said “Mr. Murder,” instead of “Mr. Moore” as he was reading his charge to the jury. But on each occasion, he immediately stopped and corrected himself.

“It was an unfortunate triple slip of the tongue and it may have suggested to the jury how the judge perceived Moore,” defence lawyer Peter Zaduk said.

Moore said the multiple murder convictions and life sentence have derailed his blossoming musical career.

“My talents had me on the right track, enabling me to explore musical endeavours with Toronto’s own king of hip hop, Drake,” he said.

“There was no mention of me graduating high school with honours or me pursuing a post-secondary education at Seneca College.”

The judge said Moore’s “determination to show himself to be an authentic gangster who shakes the streets, bespeaks a man who is so morally depraved, and so utterly lacking in humanity, that the 25-year minimum for parole ineligibility is far more than justified.

“To paraphrase (victim Cole’s daughter) Shamika Cole ... and despite what Mr. Moore said (in court), the offender is a monster who has no heart, who is selfish and cruel and who was only thinking of himself and the ‘stardom’ he hoped to gain,” Dambrot said.

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Jahmeel Spence, Michael James, Courthney Facey and Carl Cole were law abiding and had loving families.

The four men also shared a cruel fate: They were gunned down in the fall of 2010 by callous rapper Mark Moore, who sought infamy.

Moore barely knew Cole and the motive for the killing remains a mystery. The other three victims were complete strangers to Moore.

James, 23, and Facey, 18, were good friends, who did hip hop routines together, and were valued by the Weston community for their volunteer work.

“Ever since Mike was able to walk, he enjoyed music and would dance for everyone who asked him to,” recalled James’ heartbroken mom, Joanna Simmons.

“The dance the little boy would perform would always brighten the day of those who had the pleasure of witnessing this sight,” she said. “He was a kind, loving, inspirational, law-abiding citizen.”

James was a graduate of Humber College’s chef school and was a doting dad to his toddler son, Trayvon.

When the two-year-old boy saw his father lying in his casket he said, “Shh, shh, Daddy is sleeping,” recalled Simmons.

“The hearts of everyone sank because we could see the love Trayvon had for his dad.”

Facey was a charismatic student at Weston Collegiate who aspired to become a tradesman.

“My son never got to attend his sister’s graduation or know that he was an uncle and the boy was named after him,” said his mother, Cindy Bonnick.

Spence, 27, was a devoted husband and terrific father who was working for a better future. Spence’s common-law wife, Shivonne Clarke, said they were together 7 1/2 years and had a son and daughter.

“He was working his way toward becoming an engineer in a music studio, attending Trebas Institute.

“He had applied for a grant to open up a studio with the family. But, sadly, he was stopped in his tracks,” Clarke said in her poignant victim impact statement.

Cole, 45, was also a loving family man.

His wife of 27 years, Dorothy Cole, said her husband, who worked as a driver for a convalescent home, was “my very best friend.”

His children’s victim impact statements revealed they adored him. He lavished them with attention and everything he could afford.

“My dad’s greatest joy was seeing us going to school in the mornings,” wrote daughter Shamika Cole.

sam.pazzano@sunmedia.ca

(Coverage from Mark Moore's sentencing)