David and Kathleen Bagby say they're devastated by the loss of their only son and grandson.

The Bagby's spoke publicly for the first time this morning, holding hands and often breaking out in tears and rage at a news conference in St. John's.

Andrew Bagby

Their son, Andrew Bagby, was shot five times in a Pennsylvania park two years ago. The body of his son, their grandson, was found on a Manuels beach Aug. 18.

The boy's mother, Shirley Turner, was found dead a few metres away. Police say it was a murder-suicide.

From Sept. 2, 2003: Police confirm Turner murder-suicide

The Bagby's say little Zachary was their reason for living.

Shirley and Zachary Turner

They blame Turner for the death of their son, and the legal system for allowing her to kill Zachary.

Turner was facing a murder charge in connection with the 2001 death of her ex-boyfriend, and was fighting extradition to the United States.

She was out on bail, against the wishes of American authorities.

David Bagby says Turner was a monster.

"We knew from the record of the criminal case that she was almost certainly a monster," he says.

"We knew it and we can't see how the judges and the lawyers involved in the extradition could not have known. And still they left her free on the streets."

Grandparents want a review of legal system

The Bagbys say there needs to be a review of the justice system to explain why Turner was free on bail and awarded custody of Zachary.

The grandparents say they applied for full custody of Zachary in the event Turner was convicted of murder.

Turner and Bagby had met while attending Memorial University. At the time of his death, Bagby was a resident Latrobe Area Hospital in Pennsylvania.

Justice officials there had waived the death penalty as a condition of Turner's return to that country to face the murder charge.