One of two men accused of killing a Calgary father has made a last-minute plea deal.
Cody Bauer appeared in court Friday and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder in the death of Nick Lush.
READ MORE: 2017 trial date set for accused in murder of Calgary father Nick Lush
Bauer and Kristopher Goerzen were both scheduled to stand trial for first-degree murder in May 2017.
Lush, a father of three, disappeared in March 2015 after leaving a house party in the Spring Bank area.
Watch below from April 2015: The family of Nick Lush finally has closure after his body was discovered Wednesday. Over the weekend, two men were charged with first-degree murder even before the body was found. Global’s Jayme Doll reports.
His remains were later found near Longview, southwest of Calgary.
The trial was scheduled for two weeks beginning May 1, 2017.
READ MORE: Preliminary inquiry underway for men accused of killing Nick Lush
The victim’s wife told Global News Friday she wasn’t notified the deal was being made.
“I’m crushed. It’s like a slap in the face,” Denise Lush said.
Lush received a call Friday afternoon, after the deal was already done.
“I wish I would have known before it happened. I wish I could have been there. I feel so sad.”
READ MORE: RCMP recover human remains, identify as Nick Lush
Lush said she is devastated by the plea bargain.
“What they did was so horribly wrong and he deserves so much more,” she said.
Kris Goerzen will now stand trial by himself for two weeks in May.
A sentencing hearing for Bauer will be held next Friday, Jan. 13. Victim impact statements will be read.
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