A jury in Cayuga, Ont., has found both Randall McKenzie and Brandi Stewart-Sperry guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Ontario Provincial Police Const. Greg Pierzchala. The jury came in with its verdict around 9 p.m. Thursday after beginning deliberations earlier in the day. The pair each received a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years, court heard. Both had pleaded not guilty in the Dec. 27, 2022, roadside shooting of the 28-year-old officer, who responded to the co-accused crashing a stolen car into a ditch outside Hagersville. In his remarks after the verdict was read, Justice Andrew Goodman said the couple's actions were "callous" and "cold-blooded" and had "no excuse." Goodman had a message to the Pierzchala family: "I share in your grief. Hopefully this will provide some measure of closure for you." The verdicts were read one by one, prompting some gasps in the courtroom. McKenzie looked back at some people he knew, who were crying. When asked if he wanted to speak, McKenzie stood, turned to face members of Pierzchala's family and supporters on the other side of the courtroom. "I'm so sorry to your family," he said. "What happened, that should never happen to nobody." Stewart-Sperry did not speak. The historic courthouse in Cayuga is where the first-degree murder trial of Randall McKenzie and Brandi Stewart-Sperry began on March 27. They're charged in the 2022 shooting death of Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala of Ontario Province Police's Haldimand County detachment. Jury deliberations began Thursday. (Justin Chandler/CBC) Outside the courthouse, Ed Sanchuk, media coordinator for West Region OPP, read a statement on behalf of OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique and the Pierzchala family. "This has been an incredibly challenging period for provincial constable Greg Pierzchala's family, members of the OPP, and their loved ones," Sanchuk said. "This conclusion of this trial has weighed heavily on all of us. The verdict is an important step as we focus on moving forward with continuing the important work Greg started and contributing to the ever-lasting impact he had on so many people personally and professionally." Pierzchala was a "committed officer who served with courage and integrity," the statement said. "His loss continues to be felt by the entire policing community." Crown lawyer Fraser McCracken said he wanted to "thank the jury who worked hard on behalf of this community to ensure that justice was done." Trial began in March The Superior Court trial began in late March and heard from multiple witnesses, including several who were at the scene of the shooting, police involved in the response, and experts on topics including digital video, toxicology and DNA. The 12 jurors began deliberating Thursday afternoon. During the trial, Crown prosecutors argued McKenzie shot Pierzchala, and Stewart-Sperry helped him. Neither of the co-accused took the stand. McKenzie's defence told the jury there should be reasonable doubt as to whether McKenzie was the shooter captured on the officer's bodycam as he shot the man six times. Stewart-Sperry's defence had argued she was not a participant in the crime and that prosecutors' evidence of her willing participation was "nothing more than speculation and conjecture." Goodman charged the jury over two days, instructing them in how to apply the law as they determined their verdict. For McKenzie, the jurors had only to decide whether they believed, beyond a reasonable doubt, that McKenzie was the shooter, Goodman said. For his co-accused, the jury had to weigh several factors. The justice had provided members with a flow chart taking them through a series of questions and asking whether Stewart-Sperry helped or encouraged the shooter to commit first-degree murder, or was engaged in a committing another crime for which the shooting was a likely consequence. More to come.