Peter Forster-Jones has pleaded guilty to the murder of Canberra artist Eden Waugh

The man accused of shooting dead Canberra artist Eden Waugh at point-blank range at the door of his unit in 2016 has pleaded guilty to the brutal murder, bringing some relief to the parents of the 37-year-old who described their son as ‘gentle and loving’.

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The parents of Canberra man Eden Waugh have remembered him as “gentle and loving” after his killer pleaded guilty to his murder at ACT Supreme Court.

On Monday Peter Forster-Jones initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder, setting the stage for a two week trial.

But on Wednesday afternoon, Justice Michael Elkaim discharged the jury after the 23-year-old pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Waugh at point-blank range with a 12 gauge, sawn-off shotgun in front of his girlfriend at his Watson apartment on November 3, 2016.

Eden Waugh’s parents Elaine and David remembered their son as gentle and loving.

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Outside court, Mr Waugh’s tearful parents Elaine and David spoke of their enormous relief and gave their heartfelt thanks to the police and Director of Public Prosecution.

However, Ms Waugh said, “it doesn’t bring Eden back”.

“It’s been going on for a few years but now it’s starting to get to the pointy end, it is quite satisfying,” Mr Waugh said.

“He will be remembered by a lot of people (as) gentle and loving.

“He gave things away to people because they had nothing and when you told him he had nothing he’d say; ‘They’ve got more nothing’, he was that sort of kid.”

Eden Waugh,37, was shot dead with a 12 gauge, sawn-off shotgun in front of his girlfriend at his Watson apartment on November 3, 2016.

In his opening address on Monday, Prosecutor Anthony Williamson said Mr Forster-Jones and another man, Jason Pikula-Carroll, went to Mr Waugh’s home at Windeyer Court with the “premeditated intention of murdering him”.

Mr Williamson said the murder was a “cold-blooded plan hatched weeks earlier to silence” Mr Waugh, 37, over a violent home invasion the pair had carried out at his home six weeks earlier.

Prosecutor Anthony Williamson leaves ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Mr Waugh was viciously attacked with a machete and hit over the head with a shotgun during the invasion which the court heard was allegedly triggered by Mr Pikula-Carroll’s belief that Mr Waugh had refused to sell him drugs.

“This was not a murder that occurred in the heat of the moment or a crime of passion,” Mr Williamson said on Monday.

Mr Williamson told the jury they would hear an audio recording in which Mr Pikula-Carroll could be heard “cheering and congratulating” Mr Forster-Jones over the killing as Mr Waugh’s girlfriend called Triple-000.

Eden Waugh with parents Elaine and David Waugh.

Mr Williamson said the pair had “literally walked over the deceased’s dying body to get into the unit and steal drugs and cash” and showed no remorse for their actions.

“You will hear that at no point the accused and co-accused did anything to render assistance to the deceased,” he said.

Mr Forster-Jones confessed to the killing to undercover police, who had “tricked” him into believing they were going to allow him to be part of their criminal gang.

“You will hear in the recording (Mr Forster-Jones) hadn’t lost any sleep over the killing,” Mr Williamson said.

Eden Waugh’s parents Elaine and David Waugh.

Mr Forster-Jones allegedly told the police he had intended to “hack up” Mr Waugh with a machete but didn’t when he realised he was already dead.

Mr Forster-Jones will be sentenced on August 26 and Mr Pikula-Carroll will face court at a later date.