Recalling 'a wonderful man'

Procession marks year since slaying of bodybuilder

By John Aguilar , Daily Camera

Published December 19, 2007 at 12:30 a.m.

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Brian Williams / Special To The Rocky/2005

Sergio Libman is shown in a bodybuilding pose at the 2005 Nutrition Stop Natural Colorado Open Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships. Libman was killed a year ago.

A year ago, Sergio Libman and Gail Dubois were in the process of simplifying their lives.

The couple slowly were selling off possessions so they could move to Chile - Libman's native country - and open a bed-and- breakfast together.

Among the items they were unloading on Dec. 18, 2006, was Libman's 2003 Porsche, which the 43-year-old roofer and competitive bodybuilder had listed for sale on the Internet.

Two men who responded to the online ad showed up at Libman's roofing business in Boulder's Steelyards neighborhood to supposedly make a bid on the vehicle. Instead, they tried to steal the car, shooting and killing Libman in the process.

On Tuesday evening, Dubois accompanied a group of 25 close friends in a candlelight procession down Carbon Place to the spot where Libman was killed a year ago to pay tribute to "a wonderful man."

"The last year has been painful," Dubois said. "I'm not the type to carry a lot of anger, but I've had to try to find a place in which to channel my anger.

"Sergio gave me so much when he was here. Thinking of that man just takes me back and gives me a better place in my heart to deal with this."

Dubois, 47, said she finds going to court to watch the judicial proceedings against the men accused of murdering her partner the hardest part of the healing process.

"I have to believe justice will be served," she said.

Ryan Barry, the alleged gunman in the crime, was charged with first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled for next month.

Alfred Gusman, who police say stabbed Libman in the back after he had been shot, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is scheduled to be sentenced following Barry's trial.

Kimberley Johnson, who was romantically involved with both men at different times, was sentenced in October to two years of work release and 10 years of probation for being an accessory to the murder. She drove the men to Boulder that night and then drove Barry to Kansas.

Rick Jones, owner of Customized Nutrition & Exercise, regularly sold Libman nutritional products out of his Steelyards shop.

"I just keep waiting for him to come in," said Jones, who hung a lighted neon "Sergio's Gym" sign on the wall inside his store Tuesday.

Dubois, encircled by her friends on a bitterly cold night in Boulder, said the most important thing was to never forget Libman, the man with whom she hoped to grow old.

"Being here tonight is not a moment I want to remember, but it's important to remember," she said.

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