Nicholas Bell-Wright has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Winnipeg teen, Cooper Nemeth.
A court heard Tuesday the 17-year-old died as a result of two gunshot wounds to the head.
Bell-Wright was charged with the youth’s killing in February 2016.
READ MORE: Police charge 22-year-old with second-degree murder in Cooper Nemeth death
The guilty plea was entered Tuesday at 9 a.m.
In court, crown prosecutor Mike Himmelman stated the accused had been involved in drug dealings with Nemeth.
“The deceased had become involved with selling Xanax pills. He and the accused were recent acquaintances who knew each other through the illegal drug trade,” Himmelman said.
Nemeth was last seen alive in Winnipeg on the evening of February 13 at a house on Amelia Crescent.
Court heard Tuesday Nemeth was picked up by Bell-Wright in the his 1997 Cadillac and the two were seen driving together with Nemeth riding in the front seat.
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“A violent encounter subsequently occurred between the parties. The deceased suffered blunt trauma from the altercation including bruising and abrasions,” Himmelman said in court.
Still in the car, Bell-Wright then took a 22 calibre semi-automatic gun and shot Nemeth twice in the head.
He then disposed of the the 17-year-old’s body and drove to his home on Treger Bay to try and get rid of any evidence.
“He attempted an extensive clean-up of his clothes and vehicle using bleach, towels, spray paint and other cleaning supplies,” Himmelman said.
Nemeth was reported missing by his family later that day.
Hundreds of friends and volunteers spent the next six days searching for the teen.
His body was found by a homeowner in a garbage bin on February 20.
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“(Nemeth’s) shoe and baseball cap were recovered in the snow. Also the pistol used to kill the deceased was found partially exposed in the snow,” Himmelman said.
Bell-Wright was charged the following day.
Two blood stains were found on his right runner and tested for DNA evidence.
The court heart Nemeth’s DNA couldn’t be excluded as a contributor and the “probability of random coincidental match (was) estimated at one in 2.9 quintillion,” Himmelman said.
Sentencing has been set for January 15.
The minimum sentence for second degree murder is life in prison with no chance of parole for at least ten years.
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