A jury was empaneled on Saturday in Moncton for the trial of a 29-year-old individual accused of the 2019 murder of a couple in Dieppe. Janson Bryan Baker, 29, is facing two charges of first-degree murder for allegedly killing Bernard Saulnier, 78, and Rose-Marie Saulnier, 74, on September 7, 2019, in Dieppe.
On Saturday morning, Baker formally entered a plea of not guilty as the process of jury selection commenced, concluding just after 7 p.m. The Crown is expected to present its opening statement on Tuesday morning, outlining the evidence to be presented during the trial.
The deaths of the Saulniers deeply impacted the community and raised questions about the case as police investigation efforts remained relatively discreet. Baker was charged in September 2023, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of the discovery of the couple’s bodies in their Amirault Street residence. The cause of their deaths has not been disclosed.
Rose-Marie Saulnier, a well-known figure in Dieppe, owned the Natural Choice Health Centre and later worked as a nutritionist and herbalist at Sequoia Dieppe. Bernard Saulnier, her husband, was a former president of Acadia Electric and had active involvement in the Dieppe Rotary Club and a New Brunswick construction association.
The couple’s two sons, Sylvio Saulnier and Luc Saulnier, were also part of the family. Sylvio passed away in 2023, with authorities confirming that his death was not linked to any criminal activity. Due to a standard publication ban, details concerning the court proceedings leading up to the trial are restricted.
The trial is slated to span three months, with jury summonses having been distributed to 1,000 individuals by the Department of Justice. The unusual Saturday jury selection was facilitated to accommodate a larger group of potential jurors across four courtrooms, integrating technology and additional personnel without affecting normal weekday operations.
Four courtrooms were utilized with hundreds of individuals participating in the jury selection process. Sixteen jurors, including two alternates, were ultimately chosen after lawyers advocated for a larger jury size. Justice Cameron Gunn is presiding over the trial, with Baker being represented by defense attorney Brian Munro. The Crown’s legal team comprises James McConnell, Bradley Burgess, and Victoria Quirk.
First-degree murder charges, which Baker is facing, pertain to premeditated and intentional killings, carrying an automatic life sentence with no eligibility for parole for at least 25 years.