The trial of the man accused of killing an elderly couple in Dieppe in 2019 could last four months.
Janson Bryan Baker28, appeared Monday before the Court of King’s Bench in Moncton.
He allegedly killed Rose-Marie and Bernard Saulnier, 74 and 78 years old respectively, in their house on rue Amirault, in Dieppe, in September 2019.
Open in full screen mode
Bernard and Rose-Marie Saulnier were killed in 2019 in their home in Dieppe.
Photo: - / Pascal Raiche-Nogue
According to Judge Robert Dysart, the trial is expected to last several months, but defense lawyers have not yet proposed dates.
They requested a new appearance on January 27, by telephone, in order to fix them.
Justice Robert Dysart also noted that the Court was prepared to begin the trial after Labor Day, September 1, so that it would conclude just before the end of the year.
According to the judge, voir dires, that is to say hearings which make it possible to determine whether evidence or statements are admissible, should last four weeks, while the trial itself could last for four month.
Delay in procedures
While the accusations against Janson Bryan Baker were filed in 2023, on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the discovery of the bodies of the Saulnier couple, the start of the trial was delayed, particularly at the provincial court level.
Indeed, in January 2024, the Crown argued that the law firm Gorham Vandebeek – who had agreed to represent the accused – was potentially in a conflict of interest and requested his exclusion from the case.
The matter was resolved six months later, in July, and the accused was able to keep his lawyers.
The preliminary investigation, the hearing during which the court presents its evidence against an accused, concluded on December 10.
With information from Shane Mageeof CBC