Dartmouth teen pleads guilty to stabbing death of Daniel Pellerin

A 16-year-old Dartmouth boy has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Daniel Pellerin last August.

Pellerin, 28, was found stabbed and seriously injured in the Farrell Hall parking lot in Dartmouth on Aug. 29, 2014. He later died in hospital.

The teenager, whose identify is protected by a publication ban, was supposed to go on trial beginning last Friday on a charge of first-degree murder. But the Crown and defence adjourned the trial to discuss a possible settlement.

On Wednesday, they announced an agreement to have the teenager plead guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder.

"It's something that really was in the mutual interest of both the Crown and the accused and one, frankly, that fit very well the facts of this particular case," Peter Craig, the Crown prosecutor, said outside court.

Once Judge Anne Derrick accepted a guilty plea from the accused, Craig read an agreed statement of facts into the record.

Earlier altercation

Family and friends of Pellerin crowded the courtroom and one of them clearly uttered the word "f--k" as Craig started reading. Other supporters tried to quiet the outburst and sheriffs moved to positions closer to the family. Some people sobbed.

Craig told the court that Pellerin left his aunt's house at around 10:15 p.m. to meet someone at Farrell Hall and deliver some money.

A passing motorist spotted Pellerin being subjected to multiple blows by two white males. By the time the driver reversed direction and returned to the parking lot, the two men were fleeing on foot and Pellerin had collapsed. He was described as unresponsive and barely breathing.

An autopsy confirmed Pellerin died of multiple stab wounds.

The court was also told Pellerin had an earlier altercation with an associate of the teenager.

"It's the most difficult thing I've ever done in my life," said Melissa Weir, Pellerin's sister. "I've never had to deal with something like this in my life. It's my brother. My little brother. And it's horrible."

With the guilty plea, the Crown withdrew its notice to have the teen sentenced as an adult.

His lawyer asked that the youth be assessed for an intensive rehabilitative custody order.

'We're there to give our voice'

"These are particularly unique orders and they include a battery of medical, psychological and potentially psychiatric assessments and the treatment that would follow that if that was found to be an appropriate order for the judge to make at sentencing," Craig said.

Tempers flared outside the courthouse with a confrontation on the sidewalk on Spring Garden Road. Sheriffs' deputies called police and one person was taken into custody for investigation of a threats complaint.

"Most definitely emotions are high," said Weir. "We're there to give our voice and our eyes to Daniel and it seems like we're not always welcome here."

A co-accused in the stabbing death, 23-year-old Trevor Hannan, faces a preliminary hearing in August on a charge of first-degree murder.

The teen is to be sentenced on May 21.

"I'm going to be here for everything," Weir said. "Every day. Not missing one. It's the last thing I can do for my brother."