Relatives of victim Jennifer Horne wept in court after her killer changed his plea Friday, bringing a gruesome trial to an early and unexpected end.

Desmond Maguire agreed to plead guilty to first-degree murder before the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.

It was the second guilty plea in the horrific sex slaying that shocked Nova Scotia. Maguire's girlfriend, Ashley Haley, pleaded guilty earlier this week.

Horne's parents and relatives cried and consoled each other, as a spokesperson for the family said the guilty plea was a relief after 2 ½ years of court proceedings and graphic evidence.

"We're just so pleased we don't have to go through the rest of this trial," Steve Andrews, a step-uncle, said outside the Halifax court.

"The emotional impact of this guilty plea (has) been overwhelming.

"Every day in court at the end of the day, we'd say, 'Maybe, maybe tomorrow morning he'll come in and plead guilty."'

A first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Horne's body was found rolled up in carpet outside Maguire's and Haley's apartment in Dartmouth on Dec. 31, 2007.

The court heard Maguire and Horne, 20, were dating for a couple of weeks before they went to a bar in Halifax on Dec. 29.

They both worked at a Dartmouth seniors home.

Prosecutor Robert Morrison said during Wednesday's opening day of the trial that Horne, 20, had been sexually assaulted and stabbed multiple times.

Nova Scotia's chief medical examiner believes she suffocated to death after her head was wrapped in duct tape.

Dr. Matthew Bowes said in court earlier this week there were multiple "sharp-force injuries" to Horne's body, but none appeared to be life-threatening. He said she appeared to die quickly when her airway was sealed shut with the tape.

"This young lady had quite a number of injuries," he testified. "There was an absolute seal of the airway."

He also said Horne's body was badly bruised and there were cuts from her head to her lower limbs.

"The number of bruises were so numerous they blend together," he told the jury.

Maguire's defence lawyer said the graphic evidence may have led to the change in plea.

"Obviously, seeing the testimony and seeing the evidence again had some effect on him," defence lawyer Robert Rideout said.