Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
One of the Crown’s key witnesses in a Moncton double-murder trial faced cross-examination questions Tuesday about his own crimes and what led him to co-operate with police.
The questioning came on the second day of the man’s testimony in Janson Baker’s trial on two counts of first-degree murder.
It’s alleged Baker killed 78-year-old Bernard Saulnier and his wife, 74-year-old Rose-Marie Saulnier, on Sept. 7, 2019. Baker has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A Crown witness whose name cannot be reported testified Monday that Baker told him about killing the couple and taking a chain off Bernard Saulnier’s body.
Bernard Saulnier, 78, and his wife, Rose-Marie Saulnier, 74, were discovered in their Dieppe home on Sept. 7, 2019. (Fair Haven Funeral Home)
Cross-examination by Baker’s defence lawyer Brian Munro began Tuesday morning, suggesting that the witness was a “professional criminal” who had provided information to police to get out of his own troubles.
The witness said he used information about Baker to get a reduced sentence, but he denied co-operating with police on other matters. When asked if he had other reasons for co-operating, such as in the interests of justice, the witness appeared to scoff.
“[My] motivation was to get a reduced sentence on my … charges,” the witness said.
Munro asked the witness about entries in a document outlining crimes he was suspected of or charged with. Because of the number of entries, the questioning spanned more than 40 minutes before a lunch break.
“Do you recall that?” Munro would ask.“Yeah,” the witness responded.
The witness at one point stopped to say if it wasn’t for the paperwork in front of him he wouldn’t be able to remember the allegations or charges.
CBC News is not reporting the details, including locations, specific charges and dates, because of a publication ban imposed by the judge prior to Baker’s trial starting with anything that would identify the witness.
Another publication ban imposed Monday by the judge prevents reporting other aspects of testimony and cross-examination by the witness.
Munro asked a series of questions about the timeline that the witness said Baker had told him, a timeline that appeared in conflict with information another witness has already testified about.
The witness was questioned whether he had researched or sought out information from various people related to the Saulnier homicides before going to police.
The witness said he had asked his mother to look up information related to the homicides, including if there was a reward.
The witness finished testifying Tuesday afternoon. Justice Cameron Gunn said testimony about the witness’s past convictions can be used in how the jurors assess the reliability of his testimony.
The trial is expected to continue Wednesday.