The mother and sister of Paula Castillo, murdered just days after her 18th birthday, told a packed courtroom today that they carry no hatred for the man who shot her to death, but that they still feel anger and deep sadness that her life was cut so short.

“The justice that Paula’s family found in a courtroom is no compensation for everything they lost,” Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said. “But even through their grief, they showed grace, dignity, and strength. Knowing that Paula carried those same virtues makes her tragic death even more of a loss for her community.”

A Suffolk Superior Court jury on Friday convicted RUBEN SANCHEZ (D.O.B. 9/6/90) of Hyde Park of the indicted charge of second-degree murder for shooting Castillo in the neck, killing her, after a birthday party in her honor. He was additionally convicted of unlawful firearms possession charges. Today, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Raymond Brassard sentenced him to the mandatory life term for Castillo’s murder. He will be eligible for parole after 15 years and Brassard ordered him to serve five years of probation if he is ever released.

Also convicted Friday were MIGUEL VASQUEZ (D.O.B. 5/5/91) of Boston’s South End and ANDRES BREA (D.O.B. 1/25/90) of Roxbury. Neither was charged with Castillo’s death; they were found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and both were sentenced to two years in the House of Correction to be followed by five years’ probation – the sentences recommended by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Hickman, who prosecuted the case. Brassard ordered that both men stay out of trouble and obtain full-time employment or education during that probationary term.

Prior to sentencing, Castillo’s mother, Sandra German spoke in Spanish translated by her surviving daughter, Keyla Castillo.

“May God forgive him for killing her daughter,” the slain girl’s sister said of Sanchez, translating her mother’s words. “She does not hate them.”

For her part, Keyla Castillo noted that Paula Castillo was four months pregnant when Sanchez fired the shot that killed her in the early morning hours of Sept. 20, 2009.

“Today that baby would have been a year and four months,” she said. “I have no hate in me, but I’m angry because she was taken away … I’m just glad justice is being served.”

Hickman proved that Sanchez, Brea, and Vasquez arrived at the Hillis Road festivities on the evening of Sept. 19, left for another party, and then returned and became involved in an argument with the hostess. That altercation led to them being ejected from the party.

Outside, the evidence showed, the defendants continued to exchange words with partygoers as they walked to Brea’s car. It was there, the evidence showed, that Vasquez goaded Sanchez into pulling his gun and firing it in the direction of the party. Castillo, who was leaning out a second-floor window, was struck fatally in the neck. The defendants entered the car, Brea drove a short distance and made a U-turn, and Sanchez fired one last shot at the building before the car sped off.

A description of their red Honda Civic was relayed to Boston Police, who stopped it and brought the occupants in for questioning after the shooting. A search warrant later executed on the vehicle led to the recovery of a firearm with four spent shells and one live round. The three were ultimately arrested, indicted, and formally charged in connection with Castillo’s murder.

Kara Hayes, Jennifer Sears, and Katherine Moran were the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocates. Sanchez was represented by attorneys Michael Doolin, Vasquez by attorney Daniel Solomon, and Brea by attorney Eleftherios Travayiakis.