A senior couple residing in Dieppe was shot by an individual hired by a drug network to eliminate their son, as stated by a Crown prosecutor addressing a Moncton jury. The prosecutor, Brad Burgess, presented the Crown’s opening statement to the jurors, displaying images of the deceased bodies of Bernard Saulnier, 78, found on the bedroom floor, and his wife, Rose-Marie Saulnier, 74, discovered on a bed.
Burgess described the tragic incident of the elderly couple being killed in their night attire in their residence, prompting the jury to ponder the circumstances and motives behind the heinous act. Over approximately 20 minutes, Burgess outlined the forthcoming witness testimonies, forensic findings, and other evidence scheduled for presentation during the extensive three-month trial.
Janson Bryan Baker, 29, from Moncton, is facing two first-degree murder charges in connection to the case. The trial commenced with jury selection, and Baker has entered a plea of not guilty to the accusations. The prosecutor informed the jury about the anticipated testimony of Nadine Vosburgh, who was involved with Sylvio Saulnier, the son of the deceased couple residing with them at the time.
Burgess detailed how Vosburgh discovered the bodies of the Saulniers on the morning of September 7, 2019, in their home. The prosecutor disclosed the strained relationship between Sylvio Saulnier and Jesse Logue, the leader of the drug-trafficking network, following police raids targeting the network, which Sylvio narrowly escaped. The rift between Sylvio and Logue escalated suspicions that Sylvio was an informant and had orchestrated the raids, leading to a vendetta against him and ultimately implicating Baker in the murders.
The trial is set to proceed with additional testimonies and evidence, shedding light on the tragic events that unfolded in the Saulniers’ household.