Murder charges laid in Lincoln shooting death
Joshua Raines, 47, and Samantha Mary Butler, 21, are accused of second-degree murder in the March 12 death of Lucas Richard Solomon Polchies in Lincoln
A man and woman have been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of a Bilijk (Kingsclear) First Nation man along Route 102 in Lincoln last month.
Joshua Christopher Raines, 47, of Route 565 in Holmesville, between Perth Andover and Florenceville-Bristol; and Samantha Mary Butler, 21, of Karen Drive in Rusagonis, appeared Fredericton provincial court Monday by video conference from remand facilities.
They were arrested and detained on the weekend on a remand information, and charged formally Monday with second-degree murder stemming from the March 12 death of Lucas Richard Solomon Polchies.
Raines said he was trying to retain Fredericton defence lawyer T.J. Burke, while Butler said she was applying for legal aid.
Judge Lucie Mathurin adjourned the case to May 15 after the brief court appearances.
She also imposed a non-communication order, barring the defendants from contact with one another and six other individuals: Patrick Harris, Victoria King, Abigail King, Tyler Sabattis, Bethany Paul and Hannah Kilfillen.
The RCMP issued a news release March 13 indicating that officers and paramedics responded to the area of the 2300 block along Route 102 in Lincoln at about 4:10 a.m. the day before after receiving a report of a gun being discharged.
“When police arrived on the scene, it was confirmed that a 27-year-old man was injured due to a gunshot wound and was transported to hospital with what were believed to be serious, life-threatening injuries,” the release said.
That victim - later identified as Polchies, of the Bilijk (Kingsclear) First Nation - died in hospital as a result of his injuries, the RCMP reported.
No bail hearings have been scheduled for Raines or Butler, as with murder charges, defendants are automatically remanded. They can apply for bail, but that has yet to occur in this case.
Murder charges are also automatically deemed to be heard in a superior court - in New Brunswick, the Court of King’s Bench. However, a preliminary inquiry to determine if there’s sufficient evidence to set a murder charge over for trial would be held in provincial court, unless an accused waives his or her right to such a hearing.
You can contact Don MacPherson at ftonindependent@gmail.com.
The facial tattoo should have been a clue. Drugs,drugs, and more drugs. Never ends well.
Did the court seriously "drop" firearm/Trafficking from last year?