Crosetti Brand found guilty on all counts in Edgewater stabbing death of 11-year-old Jayden Perkins

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A jury reached a guilty verdict for Crosetti Brand in his murder trial after deliberations began Thursday.

Brand is the man who was accused of killing 11-year-old Jayden Perkins and injuring his pregnant mom in Edgewater.

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As soon as Perkins' family stepped outside the courtroom Thursday evening, one of his relatives letting out a loud scream of what sounded like relief, and finally, justice, as the man accused of taking his life was found guilty on all counts.

The family of a slain 11-year-old was emotional during closing arguments Thursday.

Perkins family shared a bittersweet celebration outside the Leighton Criminal Courthouse as their family finally got justice for the beloved 11-year-old boy.

"Justice had been done," relative Titus Washington said. "That's all we wanted was justice. We got it, so we happy about it."

Brand was found guilty on all counts, including aggravated domestic battery, attempted first-degree murder, home invasion, first-degree murder type A and first-degree murder type B.

"Normally, a murder trial with this many counts would take several years to be ready for trial," Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke said. "This team got this case ready for trial in less than a year."

Brand's former girlfriend, Laterria Smith, was stabbed 15 times in the incident.

The attack happened in March of last year, just a day after Brand was released on parole.

Now, he's facing murder and attempted murder charges.

Perkins was stabbed once in the chest and died.

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Brand is representing himself in court.

The defense and prosecutors rested Thursday.

Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke was in the gallery watching closing arguments.

A Cook County prosecutor argued before jurors Brand held true to his death threats, and came after Smith hours after he was released from jail.

"Jayden just 11 years old, he was brave and strong. But he was no match for this grown man with a knife," Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Stephanie Gersch said. "This 11-year-old boy was trying to save his mom. Instead of saving her, he was murdered."

In the defense closing arguments, Brand told jurors it was Smith who had a knife.

"The defendant was not attempting crime. The defendant was attempting to defend himself," Brand said. "Defending yourself is not a crime."

He went on to argue, "This was cold-blooded cruelty. Laterria Smith killed her own son."

During the closing arguments, Perkins' mother and relatives left the court at times, overwhelmed with emotion.

Perkins' grandmother left court early on, and let out a loud scream that could be heard inside the court room.

Brand and Smith had been off-and-on dating since 2006. In a previous incident, Brand attacked Smith when she got off a bus. That incident resulted in an order of protection.

Post-trial motions for Brand will begin June 30.