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CARLTON, Minn. — A rural Carlton County man testified Friday, Sept. 8, that he fatally shot his ill wife at her request, putting an end to her suffering.

Raymond Arthur Julian, 67, pleaded guilty to the intentional second-degree murder of Tracy Ellen Julian, 62, at the couple's home near Kettle River in December 2021.

The defendant, appearing in State District Court via video from the Carlton County Jail, was emotional as he affirmed the allegations in a criminal complaint but maintained he was acting in accordance with his wife's wishes.

"It was a suicide by her, with me as the instrument," he said.

Julian faces more than 20 years in prison under state sentencing guidelines, but defense attorneys are expected to argue for a lesser punishment given the circumstances.

The defendant testified that he shot Tracy Julian roughly 12 hours before Carlton County sheriff's deputies showed up at the residence, 3662 Heiskari Road in Kalevala Township, on Dec. 10, 2021. Court documents said a third party had reported receiving an email from Raymond implying he planned to kill Tracy.

Julian acknowledged he told deputies something to the effect of: "My wife is dead. She's in the bed. I killed her." He said he was placed under arrest and did not see what happened next, but court documents indicate deputies entered a partially finished pole building and found Tracy on a bed in a living area.

It was "obvious" she was dead from gunshot wounds to the head and chest area, the complaint said. Julian testified Friday that he used a shotgun to intentionally shoot her near the heart and then the base of the skull, and that he was the cause of her death.

"My purpose in firing those shots was to provide the relief that she had requested me to provide of her suffering," Julian said in response to questioning from Chief Deputy Carlton County Attorney Jeff Boucher. While difficult to hear at times, he did not appear to elaborate on his wife's health issues.

Having made statements about hurting himself, Julian was initially taken to a hospital for observation before he was booked at the county jail, where he has remained for the past 21 months. The case was long stalled as attorneys were awaiting various forensic results from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Defense attorney Andrew Poole used the term "mercy killing" to describe the case, but Julian acknowledged to Boucher that he understood the facts of his plea do not amount to any legal defense under Minnesota law.

The couple had been married since November 1997, according to county records.

Julian, who does not have any apparent criminal history, faces approximately 22-31 years in prison under the guidelines. But Poole said he will file requests for both durational and dispositional departures — less time than recommended and a stay of the prison term in favor of probation.

Boucher is not bound by any recommendations and did not indicate the sentence he will seek.

Judge Amy Lukasavitz ordered an investigation of Julian's background and scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18 at the Carlton County Courthouse.

Poole said he intends to introduce testimony from an expert, psychologist Sara Vaccarella, and that Julian's family and friends may also participate in the hearing.