PAIR PLEAD GUILTY IN MAYERTHORPE KILLINGS

Almost four years ago, Shawn Hennessey and Dennis Cheeseman gave ranting,
cop-hating James Roszko a weapon and a ride to the spot where Mounties
were tearing apart Roszko's pot farm.

Yesterday they stood to face Justice Terry Macklin in the dead hush of
Court of Queen's Bench and paid the price.

The brothers-in-law pleaded guilty to four counts of manslaughter in the
deaths of the four Mounties Roszko ambushed, shot and killed inside his
Quonset hut outside Mayerthorpe on March 3, 2005.

They had been charged with first-degree murder but agreed to plead down to
the lesser charges. Manslaughter generally carries a lighter penalty than
the mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder.

Hennessey, 29, dressed in a grey suit and striped white dress shirt, hair
cut to a razor-thin black stubble, quietly replied "Yes," to the four
counts of manslaughter relating to the deaths of constables Anthony
Gordon, Brock Myrol, Peter Schiemann and Leo Johnston.

Cheeseman, 25, then stood in a white dress shirt and black slacks, hands
behind his back, dark hair parted in the middle and highlighted by blond
streaks, and replied "Yes" to the four counts.

The men, who had been free on bail, were then ordered held in custody.

"For the people who worked with the fallen four, they will also see today
that justice was served," said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Wayne Oakes outside
court.

The courtroom was packed with more than 100 people, some standing in
jammed doorways. Family members of the victims looked on, dabbed teary
eyes or quietly cried as Crown prosecutor David Labrenz recounted the
events surrounding the ambush in an agreed statement of facts.