Two men who were charged with murder for helping in the brutal murders of four Alberta Mounties almost four years ago have pleaded guilty to lesser charges of manslaughter.
Shawn Hennessey, 29, and his brother-in-law Dennis Cheeseman, 25, pleaded guilty to the charges in an Edmonton court on Monday.
In an agreed statement of facts, the men said they provided a rifle and ammunition to James Roszko, then drove him to his Mayerthorpe, Alta. property, where Roszko later shot and killed four Mounties.
Roszko murdered Constables Brock Myrol, Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston and Peter Schiemann, on March 3, 2005 before turning the gun on himself.
The Mounties were staking out Roszko's property, guarding evidence that was part of an investigation into stolen auto parts and a marijuana grow-op.
The tragedy was one of the darkest days in the history of the RCMP as the worst single-day loss of life in more than a century.
Though Hennessey and Cheeseman were charged in July 2007, few details have emerged until now about how the men were involved in the deaths.
CTV's Janet Dirks, reporting from Edmonton, said the statement of facts outlined what took place on the day of the murders, finally shining light on their role.
The document said that on March 2, 2005, a bailiff enacting a court order to seize Roszko's vehicle called the RCMP for help.
After Roszko fled his property in his truck, officers arrived and found stolen auto parts and marijuana plants inside a Quonset hut on the property. The officers were then stationed at the hut until the investigators could come to the scene.
Meanwhile, Roszko made phone calls to his mother and then to Hennessey, who was a friend who had helped run drugs.
After taking the call, Hennessey got hold of his brother-in-law, Cheeseman, and the pair agreed to give Rozsko a gun and ammunition.
Cheeseman then wrapped the Winchester rifle, which was owned by Hennessey's grandfather, in a pillow case as the pair drove Roszko to spot across from the hut were police were stationed.
During the drive, Roszko was angry and vowed to "get even" with the RCMP. Moments later, he put socks over his boots and stepped out of the vehicle and began walking towards the police officers across the field.
"They had heard him rant about burning down the hut, that he was enraged, and the pair didn't call the police," said Dirks.
Prosecutors charged the men with first-degree murder under Section 21 of the Canadian Criminal Code.
The section reads that anyone who aids another person commit a crime can be charged with the same offence.
While first-degree murder carries a life sentence, manslaughter sentences are generally lighter. There is no word yet on how the long the men will be incarcerated.
There has long been speculation that Roszko had help in order to return to the property.
The RCMP has said Cheeseman and Hennessey weren't involved in the actual shootings, and investigators have remained tight-lipped about their role, other than to allege they were somehow involved.
The charges against them were the first indication that investigators had finally connected the dots as to how Roszko set up the ambush.
Roszko, who was open about his hatred for the police, had a long history of conflict with law enforcement officers.
Cheeseman and Hennessey spent close to 10 months in pre-trial custody following a preliminary hearing last year.
They were eventually released on bail under strict conditions.
With files from The Canadian Press
