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Justice took seven years

It took almost seven years and two trials, but a man has finally been found guilty in the murder of 52-year-old Leslie Hankel.

Andrew Jonathan Belcourt was found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2010 slaying of Hankel in his apartment during a home invasion.

Crown Counsel had earlier rejected a plea deal offered by Belcourt who tried to plead guilty to manslaughter.

During the month-long trial, court heard Belcourt and an accomplice kicked in the door to Hankel's apartment before shooting Hankel in the side of the head with a shotgun, killing him almost instantly.

The Crown said the pair wrongfully believed there was a large amount of marijuana in Hankel’s apartment and were trying to rob him.

It’s the second time Belcourt has been found guilty. He successfully appealed his first conviction in 2012.

Belcourt will be sentenced at a later date.

- with files from CTV



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