Trask brothers plead guilty

Originally charged with first-degree murder, Aaron Trask, 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. John Trask, 24, pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Earlier in the week, hundreds of local residents were summoned to the Digby courthouse to be screened for potential jury duty: cars lined Queen and Church streets and the parking lots of neighbouring churches were filled with cars.

A man waiting impatiently outside the courthouse said his number was ‘in the 600s.’ “I’m pretty sure this is for the Wayne Doucette trial,” the man told the Courier. “But he knew so many people it will be hard getting jurors.”

With the guilty pleas, the jury selected that day will not be required to serve in what was expected to be a lengthy Nova Scotia Supreme Court trial. Sentencing will take place June 15.

Doucette was discovered dead at his Doucetteville residence on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007.

A woman, who was 17 at the time, was charged with murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit murder. She has elected trial by judge and is expected to appear in court in July

Nathan Roger Tidd, 20, of Sandy Cove watched as a lookout and was sentenced in December, 2008 to two years less one day of house arrest for his part in the crime.