A teenager charged with first-degree murder in connection with a shooting in uptown Saint John earlier this month has elected to be tried by judge and jury.
The 17-year-old, who can’t be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, appeared in Saint John youth court by video from custody Wednesday afternoon.
He’s one of three people accused in the death of Thomas Connor Wilson, 20, whose body was found in a car in a parking lot near King’s Square on May 13, shortly after police responded to reports of shots being fired near the corner of Carmarthen Street and King Street East around 10:30 a.m.
Police issued a shelter-in-place warning as they searched for three suspects seen leaving the area on foot, and a second warning later in the day for a neighbourhood on the city’s west side.
If the teen is convicted, the Crown advised the court it will seek to have him sentenced as an adult. That’s life in prison instead of the maximum 10-year sentence, comprised of up to six years in custody and the remainder to be served in the community under conditional supervision, allowed under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The teen showed no reaction as four of his supporters — two men and two women — looked on from the front row of the courtroom.
He will be back in court on June 10 to set a date for a preliminary inquiry — a hearing to determine if there’s enough evidence to proceed to trial. Up to five days are expected to be set aside.
The teen remains remanded in custody and reserves his right to a bail hearing at a later date.
Cases of co-accused adjourned
One of his co-accused, Sheldon Ashford Scrubb, 30, also made a brief appearance Wednesday in Saint John provincial court by video from custody.
His first-degree murder case was set over until June 11 to give his lawyer more time to review the “quite voluminous” disclosure from the Crown.
Scrubb remains in custody.
Meanwhile, Hayden David Donald-Bentley, 20, who’s also charged with first-degree murder, appeared in Saint John provincial court by video on May 21 and has been given until June 3 to secure a lawyer.
He, too, remains in custody.
