Marshall Jr. handed community service by healing circle

An aboriginal healing circle has ended with Donald Marshall Jr. andthe man he was initially charged with trying to kill agreeing to do community service.

Marshall, the Mi'kmaq man at the centre of two high-profile legal cases,was accused of trying to run over Duncan Gould with his car last New Year's Eve.

Hewas initially charged with attempted murder, butthat charge was withdrawn. The case was moved out of the courts after the two men agreed to abide by the conditions of a healing circle.

The circle, whichinvolves Membertou elders, took place Tuesday.

"We made amends," Marshall told reporters after the meeting in Membertou. "We have to go to work Thursday packing Christmas stuff for the community."

The matter will end in Februarywhen the healing circle organizers report their decision to the courts.

Marshall was wrongfully convicted of stabbing Sandy Seale to death in 1971. He spent11 years in prison and wasreleased in 1983 when his conviction was overturned. He was later fully exonerated.

In 1999, Marshall made headlines again after an aboriginal rights case in which he was involved made it to the Supreme Court of Canada. The court's landmark rulingreaffirmed the treaty right of Mi'kmaq to fish for a moderate livelihood.