Orpheus Travers and Marcus Edgecombe have been sentenced to life in Azkaban for the murders of the McKinnon family, treason and sedition for being Death Eaters and spousal abuse. They will spend the rest of their lives under lock and guard of Dementors and reparations from their estates will go to the remaining McKinnon family member, Milo (1) who was adopted by his aunt and uncle, Erin and Rafe Kirke. There have been rumors that in exchange for lesser sentences, both men will give names of other Death Eaters, but The Daily Prophet was unable to find anyone to substantiate these claims.

The third man accused of the same crimes, less the abuse, Aland Avery was found innocent of all charges, including willful kidnapping of a pet.

At the end of the defence's presentation of evidence, each barrister spoke to the Wizengamot on Thursday and a verdict was reached in a closed forum by Friday afternoon. The guilty verdicts were unanimous, based on evidence presented at trial including spell tracing and lack of remorse on the defendant's parts. Avery's defense team, who were the first to push for separate trials worked without helping the other accused men. Avery's defence? He was under an Unforgiveable Curse.

"It's plain to see that this young man's mind has been tampered with," says attorney Jamison Foster in his closing remarks to the Wizengamot, "his marks weren't great at Hogwarts but he achieved the Animagus transformation by age nineteen. Does that fit with the same confused, seemingly addlebrained young man in front of you? No. Mr. Avery has been long under the Imperius Curse."

There was no evidence available to prove the curse had been used, though. "His body has been riddled with security and other spells, there's no way to tell now if he's been under the Imperius Curse. We didn't allow him to testify under Veritaserum, because it is untested as to what reaction the potion would have to someone whose mind has been thus tampered with."

The Imperius Curse causes the victim of the curse to obey the spoken/unspoken commands of the caster. The experience of being controlled by this curse is described as a complete, wonderful release from any sense of responsibility or worry over one's actions, at the price of one's free will. Use or attempted use of this curse commands a mandatory life sentence in prison.

Avery and his barristers declined comment as he was released from the courtroom.