KENTVILL N.S.,- Daniel Wayne Surette and Kyle David James Fredericks have pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Harley Lawrence.
The men appeared in court this morning.
62-year-old Harley Lawrence was found in a burned out bus shelter on Oct. 23, 2013, in Berwick, a small town about 120 kilometres northwest of Halifax.
A preliminary hearing for the two men was scheduled to resume today, after being adjourned , pleaded guilty to second-degree murder which they say was not planned.
The judge explained to Surette and Fredericks that by pleading guilty they are giving up their right to a trial.
With a second degree murder conviction, it is likely that both men will serve at least ten years in prison before they are eligible to apply for parole.
According to the crown, a surveillance video showing the pair walking down the street and buying gasoline is the strongest piece of evidence against them.
Surette was identified in the video by his mother.
“They viewed his as a bum, they viewed his as a rat,” said Crown Attorney James Fyfe.
But Surette’s lawyer, Ken Greer, told the judge that his client has been remorseful since the murder happened.
“He told police he had done it,”said Greer,” so certainly this is somebody that throughout this process was regretful to his actions.”
“I hope the family can find some closure in this,” Surette said to media.
Harley Lawrence’s brother was in court for the proceedings Monday .
“It’s very emotional and the family needs it,” said Lawrence.
“They’re the ones that have to live with what they did,” he said. “They’ll be looking over their shoulder all their life and they’ll be held responsible.”
After Lawrence’s death, local residents said he was using the bus shelter for refuge as temperatures dipped.
In the days that followed, a candlelight vigil was held in his memory where the bus shelter stood.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 28.
With files from The Canadian Press.
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