Sunday, December 28, 2025
ADVT 
National

Eyewitnesses take stand in N.B. mass shooting trial

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Sep, 2020 06:42 PM
  • Eyewitnesses take stand in N.B. mass shooting trial

Norma Foster told a Fredericton courtroom Thursday that on the morning of Aug. 10, 2018, she woke up to gun shots.

The witness told jurors she called 911 and looked out her apartment window and saw two people checking the pulse of a man lying on the ground outside.

Foster, an eyewitness to the 2018 Fredericton mass shooting, took the stand Thursday in the murder trial of Matthew Raymond. The 50-year-old is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Donnie Robichaud, Bobbie Lee Wright and Fredericton police constables Robb Costello and Sara Burns.

She testified that a short time after she heard the shots, police arrived. Then, she said, she heard loud noises and saw Cst. Costello "fall down."

An emotional Foster said she told the dispatcher two officers had been shot.

Another eyewitness, Sarah Gould, sobbed as she testified how she woke to the sound of gunshots and looked out her sister's window. She said she saw a window screen on the ground, and after looking upward, saw the barrel of a gun sticking out a window.

Gould said police officers arrived a few minutes later and that she heard more bangs. "They got shot," she said, crying. "First the male went down, then the female."

Asked where the officers were shot, Gould pointed to her chest, referring to the male officer's wounds, and then pointed to her back to indicate where the female cop was shot.

Gould said she saw two people crouching by a car.

On Wednesday, jurors were told that the couple behind the car was Shawn Noble and Kendra Snodgrass.

Jurors were told the couple had seen a man laying on the ground and had gone outside to see if they could offer any assistance. They could find no pulse, and waited until police arrived. They ducked behind a car when the shooting resumed.

Also on Thursday, Martin Vezina testified that his girlfriend had gotten him out of bed that August morning after she heard what sounded like fireworks outside their apartment.

He said he looked out his living room window and saw what appeared to be the barrel of a gun sticking out a window. He then heard a loud bang and the sound of smashing glass. Vezina said he hit the floor and quickly crawled to a bedroom and barricaded himself inside.

A picture introduced as evidence in court shows a bullet hole through the living room window of Vezina's apartment.

Vezina said he heard at least 10 more shots. He said he remained in the apartment with his girlfriend and three children until police came and escorted them out.

The trial continues Thursday afternoon.

MORE National ARTICLES

16 year old arrested in connection with a string of robberies in Surrey

16 year old arrested in connection with a string of robberies in Surrey
The Surrey RCMP Robbery Unit has arrested a 16-year-old youth for a string of robberies that allegedly involved the use of the online marketplace app, Letgo.

16 year old arrested in connection with a string of robberies in Surrey

Woman urges church to drop abuse case appeal

Woman urges church to drop abuse case appeal
An Ontario woman who was sexually abused by a priest as a child says the Roman Catholic church is turning to Canada's top court in an effort to further delay a decades-long legal battle.

Woman urges church to drop abuse case appeal

Feds, Ontario reach mask deal with 3M

Feds, Ontario reach mask deal with 3M
The federal and Ontario governments have secured an agreement with 3M that will see the company produce N95 masks at a facility in Brockville, Ont., a spokesman for the province's minister of economic development confirmed Thursday.

Feds, Ontario reach mask deal with 3M

Kielburger sheds light on email to Morneau

Kielburger sheds light on email to Morneau
WE Charity co-founder Craig Kielburger is shedding more light on a controversial email to then-finance minister Bill Morneau this spring, saying it was about a possible second wave of COVID-19 — not securing government business.

Kielburger sheds light on email to Morneau

Ending CERB could open door for basic income: Woo

Ending CERB could open door for basic income: Woo
Senator Yuen Pau Woo is advocating for an experimental basic income program at the provincial level, citing the complications to the employment insurance program after the end of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

Ending CERB could open door for basic income: Woo

WATCH: BC to Open Multiple Testing Centres | RCMP to Get Involved in We Charity investigation | Canucks Win

WATCH: BC to Open Multiple Testing Centres | RCMP to Get Involved in We Charity investigation | Canucks Win
A surge in #covid19 numbers in BC results in health authorities opening testing centres. Possible involvement of Mounties in further probing the WE charity fiasco and the Vancouver Canucks triumphant over the St.Louis Blues as the NHL Playoffs continue.

WATCH: BC to Open Multiple Testing Centres | RCMP to Get Involved in We Charity investigation | Canucks Win