A Victoria man has been convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his former friend in Esquimalt six years ago.

Daniel Christopher Myles Aitken was found guilty yesterday in Vancouver of killing Alex McLean, 29, whose body was found in Macaulay Point Park in October 2003. He had been shot to death.

The first-degree murder trial, which began in September, heard testimony of how Aitken confessed to his girlfriend about killing his former friend.

The jury also heard wiretap evidence that included a conversation in which the accused said: "Lex, that dude I killed." The Crown contends that "Lex" was a reference to the murder victim.

The jury, which began its verdict deliberations Tuesday morning at the Vancouver Law Courts, heard testimony from witnesses about the accused giving money to McLean and considering him a "bro." But that was before the deceased took part in a break-in, where money and drugs were stolen.