ELIZABETH, N.J. — A Canadian man who gained internet fame as "Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker" has been convicted of first-degree murder in the beating death of a New Jersey man almost six years ago.Jurors in Union County convicted 30-year-old Caleb "Kai" McGillvary on Wednesday in the May 2013 death of 73-year-old lawyer Joseph Galfy.Authorities say the two met in New York and the defendant stayed at Galfy's home.McGillvary was arrested in Philadelphia days later.He alleged that he acted in self-defence following an attempted sexual assault, but prosecutors said his statements were inconsistent and also cited the victim's extensive injuries.The Canadian gained some online fame after intervening in a 2012 assault on a California utility worker in which he described using a hatchet to fend off a further attack.The Associated Press

Five stories in the news for Thursday, April 25

A complex trial involving a novel claim to a large swath of Lake Huron lake bed and allegations of broken promises is set to kick off in Toronto today. The trial pits the Saugeen Ojibway Nation against the federal and Ontario governments. The two aboriginal groups who make up the Saugeen Ojibway Nation launched their claims about two decades ago.

An Alberta Justice official has told a fatality inquiry into the death of a Mountie that the province is right not to force prosecutors to tell bail hearings about a suspect's criminal record. Career-criminal Shawn Rehn was out on bail on other charges when he killed Wynn and wounded an auxiliary constable. The Crown at Rehn's bail hearing had been represented by a police officer, not a prosecutor.

The leader of a First Nation nearly encircled by blazes during one of the worst wildfires seasons in British Columbia's history says building firefighting capacity is urgent as another season approaches. The Tsilqhot'in First Nation released a review of the 2017 wildfire season Wednesday detailing its experience and making 33 recommendations, including infrastructure upgrades, sustained funding for firefighting training and a one-stop reimbursement process for First Nations. Chief Joe Alphonse said while there have always been fires in the region, climate change is making them more common and severe, so there's no time to waste.