Correction: This story has been updated to note there were three shooters involved in the shooting that killed Bacon. An earlier version of this story said there had been only two.
The lengthy trial of three men accused of murder in the shooting death of gang leader Jonathan Bacon ended with guilty pleas to lesser charges.
Jason McBride, Jujhar Khun-Khun and Michael Jones pleaded guilty to reduced charges on Tuesday morning.
WATCH BELOW: Raw surveillance video of crime release following end of trial
McBride plead guilty to second-degree murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder while Khun-Khun and Jones plead guilty to conspiracy to commit murder.
“The plea resolution in this case represents the culmination of excessive discussions between defence and Crown. It show the considerable reflection on the part of the Crown and the weaknesses and the strengths of the case. And as well, reflects the public interest in a just result,” BC Prosecution Service spokesperson Dan McLaughlin said.
Crown counsel and defence council are making a joint submission on sentencing.
McBride will receive an automatic life sentence on the second-degree murder charge. The lawyers are arguing he should be eligible for parole in 18 years and that his two co-accused should receive 18 year sentences.
All three will receive credit for time served.
The justice is not obligated to follow their recommendations.
Their trial has been ongoing since last May and, before the plea deal, was expected to continue for several more months.
The trio had been accused of first-degree murder in the death of Bacon, who was shot in a vehicle outside of the Delta Grand Hotel in downtown Kelowna in August 2011, and attempted murder.
Three others in the vehicle were injured including a member of the Hells Angels.
More details of the killing were revealed in court on Tuesday.
Court heard that the three men in the shot out vehicle, including Bacon, were rivals of the accused in the drug trade and the shooting was in retaliation for the murder of a Vancouver gangster.
Investigators found 45 spend cartridges at the shooting scene and 34 bullet holes in the targeted vehicle.
The dozens of shots came from three shooters. McBride was firing with a prohibited semi-automatic assault rifle. The second shooter had a pistol and has since been murdered himself. The third shooter has never been publicly identified.
– with files from Jules Knox and Blaine Gaffney
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