Donald Musselman sentenced to life for murder of Ottawa hip-hop artist

CBC
·1 min read
Donald Musselman, 23, was convicted of second-degree murder for the killing of 42-year-old Markland Campbell in Ottawa's ByWard Market in June 2019. (Submitted by Laurie Foster-MacLeod - image credit)
Donald Musselman, 23, was convicted of second-degree murder for the killing of 42-year-old Markland Campbell in Ottawa's ByWard Market in June 2019. (Submitted by Laurie Foster-MacLeod - image credit)

Donald Musselman, the 23-year-old convicted of second-degree murder in the killing of an Ottawa hip-hop artist, has been sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 12 years.

Musselman was found guilty of murdering Markland Campbell, 42, who was also known by his stage name Jahiant (pronounced "giant") Jahh.

In June 2019, Campbell was in the ByWard Market with his 18-year-old daughter when he was shot. He was taken to The Ottawa Hospital where he died in surgery.

Musselman was found guilty in December 2023.

Markland Campbell, also known as Jahiant Jahh, was part of the Ottawa hip-hop group Half Size Giants. The group has identified the 41-year-old as the man shot and killed on June 7, 2019, in the ByWard Market.
Markland Campbell, also known as Jahiant Jahh, was part of the Ottawa hip-hop group Half Size Giants. The group has identified the 41-year-old as the man shot and killed on June 7, 2019, in the ByWard Market.

Markland Campbell, also known as Jahiant Jahh, was murdered in June 2019. He was part of the Ottawa hip-hop group Half Size Giants. (Supplied by Half Size Giants)

A murder conviction means Musselman receives an automatic life sentence, but a judge had to determine how many years it will be before he's eligible for parole. The minimum is 10 years and the maximum is 25.

In 2021, Musselman was again charged with second-degree murder while he was in jail awaiting trial for Campbell's murder.

Musselman is accused of beating another inmate, Zakaria Sheek-Hussein, in the jail's showers in February 2021. Sheek-Hussein remained on life support until he died at the end of July 2021.

Musselman was charged the following month, but the case has not yet been heard in court.