(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA – The three men accused of the first-degree murder of gang leader Jonathan Bacon in Kelowna seven years ago pleaded guilty to lesser charges today.

In August 2011 Jason McBride, Michael Jones and Jujhar Khun-Khun drove from the Lower Mainland to Kelowna to find the men they believed were responsible for murdering rival drug dealer Gurmit Dhak in Burnaby the year before, according to facts presented in court.

After learning that the Wolf Pack, as they were known, was staying at the Kelowna Delta Grand Hotel, they began to plan the murder.

At around 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, 2011, McBride, Jones and Khun-Khun pulled up alongside the white Porsche Cayenne containing Bacon, Larry Amero, James Riach and two women, Leah Hadden-Watts and Lyndsey Black.

According to sentencing submissions heard in Kelowna Supreme Court today, nearly one year after the start of trial, Justice Alan Betton heard that three weapons were fired at the Cayenne – one automatic assault rifle, a semi-automatic assault rifle and a 9 mm pistol.

Bacon died at the scene, one of the women was paralyzed when a bullet severed her spinal cord and Amero was shot in the cheek, chest and forearm but survived. Riach escaped unhurt.

The three suspects then ditched the guns and drove surface roads to Lake Country where they set their vehicle on fire before returning to the Lower Mainland.

They were arrested in February 2013 and held in custody ever since.

After nearly a year of trial, McBride pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Bacon and the attempted murder of Amero, Riach and the two women. Jones and Khun-Khun pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder.

A joint submission recommends McBride, who has 35 criminal convictions since 1990, be sentenced to life in prison without parole for 18 years for second degree murder followed by another 15 years for attempted murder.

Lawyers recommended Betton sentence Jones and Khun-Khun to 18 years for their role in the planning.

All three are eligible for enhanced credit for the five years and two months they have been held in pre-trial custody. Jones has no criminal record, while Khun-Khun was convicted of kidnapping in 2007 and has convictions for fraud and breaches of parole.

Justice Betton is expected to deliver their sentences this week.

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