The Day's news staff looked back at the biggest local headlines of 2013.

It was five days in March that undoubtedly will last forever in the minds of murder victim Matthew Chew's family.

They had endured a week of sentencing hearings in New London Superior Court for five of the six young men who had taken part in the stabbing death of their 25-year-old son and brother on Oct. 29, 2010. All were sentenced to either 15 years or eight years, depending on whether they cooperated with the prosecution. After it was over, the family said the sentencing marathon had not been a healing experience. But they were glad it was over.

The lead aggressor, Idris Elahi, had pleaded guilty and was sentenced in May 2012 to 35 years.

Chew's murder shook New London to its core, affecting how people lived and worked in a community attempting to redefine itself as a safe place.