Benjamin Nason found guilty of attempted murder

Benjamin Nason has been found guilty of attempted murder in the Jan. 29 shooting of his former lover.

Nason, 38, of Beaver Dam,was accused of trying to kill his former lover, Beth Ann Wallace, 40, who suffered a single gunshot wound to her upper body, outside herFredericton home on Jan. 29.

The jury returned the verdict on Thursday morning in Fredericton.

Nason's mother cried after the verdict was read out in court. Meanwhile, Wallace and her supporters exchanged hugs.

Wallace issued a written statement to the media where she said Thursday was a sad day.

"Two families are forever changed due to Ben's choices that appear to be without provocation, reason or explanation. After eight surgeries, my arm still has no function and emotional scars run deep," she wrote.

A first time offence of attempted murder with a firearm could see a minimum sentence of five years in prison.

Nason will be sentenced on Oct. 16.

The seven-man, five-woman jury, started deliberating at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday.Around 2 p.m., the jurors asked to re-listen to more than four hours of testimony by several witnesses, including that of the victim and the defendant.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Judy Clendening told the jury that there are only two possible verdicts: guilty of attempted murder or not guilty.

To find Nason guilty, the jurors must be convinced he intended to kill Wallace.

Nason, who testified in the trial, told the jury he had been drinking the night of Jan. 28 and had planned to take his own life.

He also told the court how he remembered going to the home of Beth Ann Wallace, 40.Nason said he remembered hitting her with the butt of his gun and grabbing the phone from her.

But he said he had no memory of struggling with her, chasing her out the door or shooting her.

Wallace suffered a single gunshot wound to her upper body, outside her home during the early morning hours of Jan. 29.